Air Peace yesterday began operating scheduled direct flights from Lagos and Abuja to Tel Aviv.
Speaking during the inaugural flight ceremony held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, said history was being made in the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Israel through the commencement of direct, nonstop flights from Lagos and Abuja to the Israeli city.
“This is undoubtedly a big milestone as, for the first time, a Nigerian airline is connecting both countries directly through scheduled commercial flights,” he said.
Onyema said the airline was delighted particularly because the new route will provide huge respite to Nigerian travellers who would no longer have to travel to Israel through other countries, spending over 20 hours in stopovers whereas a direct flight takes less than six hours.
“Our entry into Israel today will open up more layers of opportunities and possibilities socially and economically, and advance the implementation of the bilateral air services agreement between Nigeria and Israel. The connectivity will boost ‘religious tourism’, especially factoring the numerous Nigerians who embark on pilgrimage trips to Israel,” he added.
He stressed that the airline was familiar with the Israeli airspace as it operated evacuation flights to the country in 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his response, the Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Freeman, expressed joy over the new connectivity, stressing that it would help deepen bilateral ties between the African and Middle East countries as well as promote mutually beneficial economic engagements.
In his remarks, the governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. David Umahi, commended the Air Peace chairman for his strides in aviation.
He said the growth of the airline “has shown that a Nigerian can make sustainable global inroads in aviation as Air Peace is solidly representing Nigeria in the international aviation community.”
He emphasised the socio-economic impact of the new route, especially in ‘religious tourism’.
Also speaking, the minister of aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, said the federal government would continue to support the indigenous airlines.
Sirika who was represented by the director of air transport management in the ministry, Mr. Hassan Ejibunu also promised government’s continued assistance to Air Peace in its route expansion drive.
Meanwhile, the airline has five international destinations, including the recently launched Mumbai, 20 domestic (with Maiduguri launch on April 21, 2023) and seven regional routes.
