Nigeria’s biggest carrier, Air Peace, has received its
third Boeing 777, therefore bringing it closer to starting its international
operations.
The airline took the delivery of its first Boeing
777 aircraft on February 23, 2018, making history as the first Nigerian carrier
to acquire and register the type of aircraft in the country.
The aircraft marked 5N-BVE and named Ifechukwu’ was
soon followed with the delivery of the second Boeing 777 marked 5N-BUU and
named ‘Ojochide’ six months after on August 25, 2018.
The airline’s latest aircraft touched down at the
Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos at about 3:20p.m. last Wednesday.
It was honoured with a spectacular water salute staged by men of the Fire
Service Department of the Federal Airports of Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) with
a crowd of the carrier’s management and staff as well as aviation authorities
and airline workers cheering ecstatically.
Air Peace said the latest aircraft in its fleet is
a big boost for its plans to start long-haul flight operations to Sharjah,
Dubai, London, Houston, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg.
Addressing journalists shortly after the aircraft
marked 5N-BWI and named ‘Anuli Peggy Onyema’ landed at the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport in Lagos, Air Peace Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mr.
Allen Onyema, said the airline had proven beyond doubt that it was the face of
the bright future of Nigeria in the global aviation industry.
He dismissed claims that Air Peace was merely
acquiring and parking wide-body aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International
Airport in Lagos, saying the airline was strategically increasing the number of
aircraft to be deployed for its long-haul operations to ensure quick and
efficient recovery when any of the aircraft is out of service.
Onyema insisted that the airline had earned the
respect of financial organisations and other critical stakeholders in the
global aviation industry, assuring Nigerians that the entry of the new aircraft
would create more jobs for Nigerians and others.
He said: “I don’t think Air Peace is parking
aircraft for fun. We brought in these aircraft to use them. We want to make
this country and Nigerians very proud. Both the government and people of
Nigeria have been complaining that there has never been any successful Nigerian
airline. This is one airline out of Africa trying to do something different.
All we need at this point in time is the support of everyone-both the
government and people of Nigeria.
“In Air
Peace, we have over 3,000 direct workers. We’ve created about 9,000 ancillary
jobs in just four years of our operations. All we need is the continued support
of the media, the government and the people of Nigeria. A lot of people are
saying Nigerian airlines are poor, they are indebted and don’t have integrity.
Air Peace has integrity. All the banks in Nigeria want to work with Air Peace
because of our integrity. All the banks outside Nigeria are looking towards Air
Peace. They see Air Peace as an emerging force out of Africa and everybody
wants to support it.”
The airline, he promised, would offer Nigerians and
other air travellers a dependable and comfortable alternative on the Sharjah,
Dubai, London, Houston, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg routes.
Onyema added that Air Peace would continue to sustain
its high safety standards, deepen air connectivity and create massive direct
and indirect job opportunities in all its areas of operation.
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