Nigerian flag carrier, Air Peace, has launched flight operations to Abidjan, the capital of Cote d’Ivoire. The airline’s inaugural flight P47770, on B737-500 aircraft, touched down at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan on Monday and was welcomed with fanfare.
The party, led by the Director of Flight Operations, Capt. Augustin Kamano, was received by Ivory Coast’s airport authorities, the Nigerian Embassy officials in Abidjan and the Nigerian community.
Kamano reiterated the commitment of the airline to bridge the connectivity gap among West African countries and reduce the air travel burden for Africans.He also hinted that the airline’s 10th regional route, which is Cotonou in Benin Republic, would be launched on January 27, 2024, adding that passengers can also fly from Abidjan to Dakar, Senegal.
He said: “Nigeria has a long-standing relationship with Ivory Coast and the launch of flights by Air Peace into Abidjan today will deepen commercial cooperation as well as solidify bilateral ties between both countries.
“Since we commenced operations in 2014, we have been on an aggressive but strategic route expansion mission, becoming famed for our no-city-left-behind initiative, which goes beyond the West Coast to include international destinations.
“The airline is committed to providing increased connectivity across key cities in the West African region and promoting economic prosperity for Africans. We want to make air travel easier for the collective development of all West African countries,” Kamano said.
Charge d’Affairs at the Embassy of Nigeria in Abidjan, Itam Akpama, said the flight operation is timely considering the ongoing African Cup of Nations Competition in Ivory Coast.
Akpama said the competition led to the influx of Nigerians and other travellers in and out of Ivory Coast that would need the services of the airline.
“You have the full support of the Nigerian Embassy and Nigerians in Côte d’Ivoire,” she said. President of the Nigerian Community in Ivory Coast, Michael Onwuchelu, commended the Chairman of Air Peace for his initiative to further connect African countries through air transportation.
“This is our own and we must especially support Air Peace. Côte d’Ivoire has been a hospitable country; we are all happy here. We will support our own,” he said.
