The chairman/chief executive officer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema has said that the airline suspended its flights to Asaba Airport and Osubi Airstrip because the status of the airports in the two cities did not guarantee the safe landing of the carrier’s B737 aircraft.
Speaking in Lagos when members of the National Association of Niger-Delta Students visited him at the airline’s corporate headquarters in Lagos, Onyema said: “Air Peace had to suspend its flights to Asaba when the airport was downgraded because of its runway. The airport’s runway was not suitable for the operation of the airline’s fleet of B737 aircraft. The Osubi Airstrip, which is the closest to Effurun and Warri, has a short runway. The runway could not handle B737 aircraft.”
However, he assured that the difficulties experienced by air travelers on the Asaba route would soon be addressed saying the runway at Asaba Airport was being fixed.
Onyema said the airline had procured some Embraer aircraft to service Asaba, Warri and other cities with similar airports in the country.
He used the opportunity to counsel the students to stay off crime and devote themselves to gainful engagements that would better their lives and contribute to the growth of the society.
Earlier, the president of the association, Mr. Martins Abebe had expressed appreciation to the airline for bringing a new experience to air travel in Nigeria and providing jobs for people.
Presenting the “Best Performing Airline in Nigeria” award to Air Peace, Abebe appreciated Onyema for setting up the airline for the development of Nigeria and the good of humanity.
