-SETS TO START LONDON HEATHROW
CHUKS OKOH
The Chairman of Air Peace, Bar Allen Onyema says his proudest moment in his life was when he deployed all his aircraft for the evacuation of Nigerians in crisis ridden areas across the globe.
Speaking at a media parley in his office at Ikeja, Onyema noted that during Covid, the airline ferried Nigerians free of charge while it also moved stranded Nigerians from Sudan, Turkey among others
He noted that the airline was established to give back to the society and has provided job opportunities to young Nigerians adding that the airline has paid its dues.
Onyema cautioned Nigerians to do away with the ‘pull him down syndrome’, stressing that those contributing their quotas to the country should be commended.
The Air Peace boss called on Nigerians to be deliberate in promoting local businesses as government alone can not do it all
He commended the minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Mr Festus Keyamo, for transforming the the aviation sector adding that he brought back the Ease of doing business in the sector
Onyema said, Nigerian airline operators in the next few weeks will start receiving their first dry leased aircraft.
He said the present government has made it easy for local airlines to thrive positively.
Onyema said, no airline will gain anything from delay or cancellation of any flight as such airlines will loose revenue adding that about 95 per cent of delays were caused by other factors
He condemned unruly behaviour by passengers stressing that any disruption in the process will spill over for a whole day.
“Delays are not synonymous with Nigeria. It happens everywhere and nobody likes being delayed”
The Air Peace chairman said, the airline delayed when it was necessary for them to delay for safety.
According to Onyema, the airline had two bird strikes last week which affected 16 flights adding, that in the last five years, the airline had over 115 birds strikes with 30 this year.
He said, Air Peace strategized since May 12 by leaving 3 aircraft not flying to serve as support for in times of emergency with 85 percent on time performance.
Onyema assured of new customers services to be rolled out by the airline soon describing it as first if it’s kind in the sector.
He announced that Air Peace was expecting more aircraft and will increase it’s frequencies for local flights while on the regional flight, Congo and Gabon will be added.
Meanwhile, Air Peace is set for London, Heathrow from Abuja as from October 26th this year
Onyema also revealed that it will be doing Gatwick daily from Abuja while in September, the airline will be going to Antigua on daily flight operations.
He explained that the airline started its preparation four years ago for the Carribean flights adding that the fleet of 777 has been increased to four.
Onyema also announce the commencement of China operations soon saying the contract with another airline has ended.
On maintenance of the aircraft, he said Isrealis were in charge
of the maintenance of the fleet with spare parts support from the United Kingdom
On why the airline stopped some of its routes, Onyema said, there were some issues surrounding the routes adding that the routes were being studied.