Air Peace Dismisses Doubts, Says It has Qualified Prerequisites for International Operations

In a resounding declaration, Air Peace, West Africa’s leading airline, has announced its readiness to undertake international operations, challenging prevailing doubts within the industry. The airline asserts that it has met the prerequisites for such endeavors, including membership in the International Air Transport Association (IATA), adequate equipment, and a skilled workforce.

The backdrop to this proclamation is a lingering debate among industry stakeholders who have questioned the viability of Nigerian airlines in international markets due to their absence from the IATA clearing house. Critics have also argued that Nigerian airlines are ill-equipped to operate point-to-point international routes.

Stanley Olisa, the Head of Corporate Communications at Air Peace, swiftly responded to these doubts, dismissing them as a manifestation of ignorance. Olisa emphasized that Air Peace possesses the necessary attributes to thrive in international routes and has forged strategic foreign alliances to sustain its overseas operations.

“We are not in the business of prosecuting campaigns of calumny on other airlines, but for an expert to gloss over Air Peace, the only Nigerian airline operating regional and international flights for over six years, is not only unfair but is reflective of those old games that have stopped working,” Olisa remarked.

Addressing concerns about the point-to-point operational model, Olisa acknowledged its limitations but pointed out that Nigeria lacks transit facilities at international airports. He cited Air Peace’s operational strategy, which includes connecting flights such as Lagos-Banjul-Dakar and Lagos-Accra-Monrovia, as evidence of their adaptability. Furthermore, he noted that Nigerian airlines are advocating for the Nigerian Immigration Service to recognize transit passengers, eliminating the need for Nigerian visas before connecting flights.

“We hope that things will change when a transit facility is built at our airports, and the Nigerian Immigration Service is on the same page with us about transit passengers. That is even when we would be ready to benefit from the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM),” Olisa added.

The airline also expressed disappointment that stakeholders have not focused on addressing the numerous challenges confronting Nigerian airlines, choosing instead to indirectly criticize Air Peace. The airline, which operates approximately 3000 flights monthly, a figure surpassing the total number of flights operated by all other Nigerian airlines combined, remains steadfast in its commitment to expanding its international footprint and maintaining its status as a pioneer in the Nigerian aviation industry.