THISDAY

Air Peace Beginsg Expansionp to Regional, Internatio­nal Destinatio­ns

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Fast growing domestic carrier, Air Peace has disclosed that it would expand to more regional and internatio­nal destinatio­ns in the next few months and would make Enugu its operationa­l hub for long haul flights.

The airline which pledged seamless air travel with its project to connect more local, regional and internatio­nal destinatio­ns assured its customers that it would continue to sustain its on-time flight operations.

The airline made this known at the weekend in Port Harcourt, Rivers State when its Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Chief Allen Onyema was conferred with the award of “Aviation Man of the Year 2016” by ATQnewsand Akwaaba African Travel Market.

Speaking at the Rivers event tagged; “Port Harcourt Bantaba”, Onyema said Air Peace was strengthen­ing its fleet with Boeing 777 aircraft in preparatio­n for the launch of its Guangzhou-China, Dubai, Mumbai, Atlanta, London and other long-haul routes.

He said the airline, which had added a Friday evening flight to its daily Lagos-Accra-Lagos route, would make Enugu the base of its Gwangzhou-China operations. Air Peace, he said, had distinguis­hed itself in the Nigerian aviation industry with its unrivalled on-time performanc­e, safety and maintenanc­e record. Responding to a question on the ownership of the airline, the Air Peace boss dismissed insinuatio­ns that a former First Lady fondly referred to as “Mama Peace” had an interest in the carrier. Onyema, who was represente­d by the airline’s Corporate Communicat­ions Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah, said Air Peace symbolised the effort of his organisati­on, the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN) to promote peace in the country through the creation of gainful employment for thousands of converted militant agitators and other jobless Nigerians.

He insisted that efforts to set up the airline predated Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. Onyema explained that he was advised to set up an airline because of its capacity to create massive job opportunit­ies for members of the society.

The Air Peace boss expressed gratitude to the organisers of the award for recognisin­g his efforts to transform air travel experience in Nigeria and beyond, pledging to support the group in its programmes.

Also speaking, organiser of Port Harcourt Bantaba, Mr. Ikechi Uko said Onyema was chosen as the “Aviation Man of the Year 2016” for positionin­g Air Peace as Nigeria’s preferred airline and for expanding to Accra, Ghana.

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