Air Peace has launched its maiden Lagos to Brazil flight, with plans to operate three flights weekly and scale up frequency in the near future.
The Chairman of the Airline, Allen Onyema, who disclosed this at the launch of the maiden flight from Sao-Paulo to Lagos on Thursday, said, “With this development, Air Peace positions Nigeria as the gateway for West and Central Africa into South America, while simultaneously giving Brazil onward access across the African continent.”
He said through this milestone, Air Peace reaffirms its role not only as Nigeria’s leading carrier but also as a regional connector and a symbol of Africa’s growing presence on the global aviation stage..
He, however, lauded President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and commitment to building a new Nigeria that offers greater opportunities for its youth.
He said, “The President is not seeking partnerships that will lord over us. He is seeking partnerships that are symbiotic in nature—not parasitic—partners who will respect our sovereignty and not bully us,” Onyema said.
On the broader connectivity impact, he added: “This is not just a flight; it is a bridge. Connectivity is at the heart of true partnership. By opening this corridor, we are bringing Nigeria closer to Brazil and, by extension, to South America and the Caribbean. This is the beginning of long-lasting opportunities for both regions.”
Also speaking, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo noted that Air Peace’s achievement was the first tangible fruit of the President’s diplomatic shuttle to Brazil.
He said, “What we are seeing today is the first fruit of the diplomatic shuttle of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Brazil. In his wisdom, the President has decided to reopen and expand our economic, diplomatic, and trade relations with Brazil. Brazil is the biggest economy in South America, and Nigeria is considered the biggest economy in Africa. Connecting these two economies was very key to both presidents.”
He further highlighted that Air Peace’s direct service would simplify travel between Nigeria and Brazil, eliminating the need for long detours through Europe or the Middle East.
He said, “With the new route, flight time is cut to just seven hours across the Atlantic, a move expected to unlock unprecedented opportunities in trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.”
The minister also emphasised that the service would facilitate onward connections across South America, providing direct access to Nigeria and, by extension, to Africa, thereby boosting regional and economic integration.
