Air Peace on October 31 commenced nonstop scheduled flights from Nigeria to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
Recall that the airline had, prior to the launch of scheduled services, operated charter flights to Saudi Arabia, airlifting Muslim pilgrims.
Spokesman for the carrier, Mr Stanley Olisa said in a statement that the inaugural flight, operated with one of the airline’s B777s, departed the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with 231 passengers.
Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, described the entry into Jeddah as “another milestone recorded in the annals of Nigeria’s aviation history.”
He said Jeddah is the sixth international destination in the airline’s nine years of launching commercial flights.
He further said with Jeddah, Air Peace has increased its presence on the Asian continent.
“This is huge, not just for Air Peace but for Nigeria. We are undoubtedly exemplifying our ambition of connecting Nigeria to the world with world-class flight services.
“Air Peace is on a mission to easing the air travel burden for Nigerians and plugging the connectivity gaps that have hitherto existed.
We are happy to be serving as a means of solidifying socio-economic ties between Nigeria and other countries of the world,” he added.
Onyema said Nigeria and Saudi Arabia had co-existed smoothly, with religious tourism being a key driver of the relationship.
He stressed that with the launch of scheduled nonstop flights to Jeddah, the airline hoped to further deepen the bilateral ties between both countries, boost both economies and advance mutual development.
“The Saudi Arabian airspace is not new to us. We have operated numerous Hajj flights to the country. Thus, we are very familiar with the terrain. Our Hajj operations this year were massive. Now, we are flying to Saudi Arabia not as a charter flight but as a regular scheduled operation.
“Air Peace is leaving no city behind, and this is beyond domestic operations. We are poised to continually create strategic connections that ease air travel and foster economic development in the markets where we operate. In line with this route expansion drive, we are also launching flight operations into London soon,” he said.
He thanked the Saudi Arabian authorities, travel partners and the Nigerian government for making the launch possible.
Onyema also announced that the airline is modernising and increasing its fleet, as it signed a firm order for five brand new E175 aircraft in September, in addition to the existing orders for 15 Boeing MAX aircraft to continue to give its customers an unequalled experience on board.
Also speaking during the flag off ceremony, the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero praised Air Peace for the Jeddah launch saying the “airline always blazing the trail in Nigeria’s aviation industry.”
He also commended Onyema for the impact he has made in Nigeria through Air Peace.
