MARCEL MBAMALUFollowing Nigeria’s recent compliance with the Cape Town Convention, its aviation rating has seen significant improvements from 49% to 70.5%, as announced by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo. Such a feat would not have been possible without the growth of airlines, for example, Air Peace.
With an absence of a national carrier since 1999, the establishment of state-owned airlines and privately owned ones such as Air Peace has led to significant strides in the Nigerian aviation sector. Perhaps this is why the current Minister of Aviation, Keyamo, described his experience with Air Peace as “an awesome experience” on April 10, 2024. He said, “It is our air…” initiative. Founded in 2013, Air Peace was launched in 2014, and has become a major player in West and Central Africa, representing Nigeria on a global scale. Most importantly, its establishment was driven by a strong desire to create jobs for Nigerians regardless of their ethnic background. The airline’s establishment was indeed rooted in Allen Onyema’s (the chief executive officer) long commitment to peace and national unity.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe airline has continued to enhance connectivity for travellers from Nigeria with an emphasis on a “no-city-left-behind” initiative. Air Peace is recognised for its commitment to safety and has modernised its fleet with new Embraer and Boeing aircraft, aiming to maintain the youngest fleet in Africa.
Meteoric Rise
From seven aircraft in 2014, air peace has grown to be one of the airlines with the most air planes in West and Central Africa, boasting of 40 as of 2024, with a firm order for 28 more aircraft valued at approximately $288.3 million. This includes recent orders for Embraer E175 and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft aimed at modernising its fleet. The airline has also established plans for local maintenance facilities to enhance its operational capabilities. As of now, Air Peace operates a mixed fleet including 13 Boeing 737s, three Boeing 777s, eight Embraer 145s, five Embraer 195-E2s, and ten Airbus A320s.
The airline began its fleet modernisation in 2021. The airline became the launch customer for the Embraer 195-E2, taking delivery of five units as part of a 2018 order for 13 aircraft. In September 2023, Air Peace signed a firm order for five Embraer E175 aircraft, valued at approximately $288.3 million, in order to further enhance its fleet and operational capabilities.
At its launch in 2014, Air Peace began operating from Lagos to major Nigerian cities such as Kano, Benin City, and Abuja. The airline has since expanded its domestic network to include 20 routes: Abuja, Akure, Anambra, Asaba, Benin, Calabar, Enugu, Gombe, Ibadan, Ilorin, Kano, Lagos, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Owerri, etc. This is evidence of its commitment to connecting every corner of Nigeria and enhancing regional connectivity across Africa, an initiative tagged “no-city-left-behind.”
READ ALSO: Air Peace At 10: Allen Onyema Shares Reasons For Setting Up Airline
It also launched its first international route to Accra, Ghana in 2017 and has since added destinations like Sharjah and Johannesburg. Currently, Air Peace operates 12 international routes to various destinations across 13 countries/cities such as Accra (Ghana), Johannesburg (South Africa), Mumbai (India), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), and London (United Kingdom), among others including recent launches to Mumbai and Israel and has expanded its international destinations to include cities like Mumbai and London, showcasing its growth in connectivity.
Challenges, Attacks Against It and Efforts to Overcome Them
Looking at the aforementioned achievements, one is bound to wonder if there have ever been any setbacks for the airline. In January 2023, the airline reported three ground collisions involving its aircraft within a month, claiming these incidents were acts of sabotage by ground handlers. Air Peace urged investigations into these claims, leading to the dismissal of involved employees from the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO).
The CEO, Allen Onyema, has also been facing allegations of money laundering and fraud from U.S. authorities since 2019, which he denies. This ongoing scrutiny is viewed by some as an attack on the Nigerian aviation sector, prompting calls for unity among industry stakeholders to support him and the airline.
Amidst the aforementioned challenges, there are also operational hurdles: Air Peace has encountered bureaucratic challenges regarding landing rights at major international airports like Heathrow. Despite operating from Gatwick, the airline has sought support from Nigerian authorities to negotiate better access to key airports. The Accident Investigation Bureau of Nigeria also claimed that Air Peace failed to report serious incidents and accidents involving its aircraft in 2019. This led to concerns about operational safety and regulatory compliance.
Other challenges that are not directly associated with Air Peace but are general issues in Nigerian aviation include: Lack of Transit Facilities: The absence of transit facilities at major Nigerian airports like Murtala Muhammed International Airport hampers the airline’s ability to efficiently connect international passengers, as they are treated like arriving passengers, requiring visas and customs clearance instead of being allowed to wait in transit areas. Nigerian airlines, including Air Peace, also struggle to obtain U.S. dollars from the Central Bank of Nigeria for aircraft maintenance and operational costs, which has led to significant delays in accessing necessary funds.
Strategies Air Peace Has Adopted to Tackle Some Challenges
Air Peace has implemented several strategies to tackle the challenges faced by the airline. In response to ongoing legal issues in the U.S., CEO Onyema has reassured the public that the airline’s legal team is actively working to demonstrate the innocence of its executives, emphasising that these challenges have not impacted daily operations.
To address operational difficulties at Gatwick Airport, including allegations of sabotage and unfair treatment, Onyema is compiling a dossier of incidents for presentation to the Nigerian government. This proactive approach aims to resolve obstacles encountered in the UK. Additionally, he has engaged with Nigerian authorities, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, to tackle bureaucratic challenges related to landing rights at Heathrow Airport, seeking to enhance Air Peace’s operational capabilities.
Philanthropic Activities
Air Peace, under the leadership of CEO Allen Onyema, has been actively engaged in numerous philanthropic activities aimed at promoting peace and supporting communities in Nigeria. The airline’s humanitarian efforts include the evacuation of stranded Nigerians during crises, such as airlifting 503 citizens during the xenophobic attacks in South Africa in 2019 and rescuing 277 Nigerians from the Sudan crisis in 2023. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Peace facilitated the return of over 300 citizens from Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Beyond crisis response, Onyema has invested significantly in community development. He donated an entire police station in Uli, Anambra State, to enhance local security and provided relief items worth millions to internally displaced persons in Yobe State. His commitment to youth empowerment is evident through his sponsorship of over 43 football teams in eastern Nigeria and a ₦300 million sponsorship deal for the Nigerian National Teams.
This is an evidence that Allen Onyema’s early life and advocacy for peace significantly shaped his philanthropic activities with Air Peace. Amongst other things during his early life, in 2005, Onyema established the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN), which organised various peace initiatives across the country.
Projections for the Future
The airline has placed a firm order for five new Embraer 175 aircraft as part of its broader fleet modernisation strategy, which aims to establish the largest and youngest fleet in Africa. The airline’s CEO emphasised that this recent order is a crucial step in realising Air Peace’s ambition to connect all of Nigeria and the African continent. He stated, “This acquisition enables us to continue delivering on our ‘no-city-left-behind’ initiative.”
In addition to fleet enhancements, Air Peace plans to launch new international routes, including flights to New York and Houston by the end of 2024. The airline is also exploring partnerships with Caribbean airlines to expand its international footprint. Hence, Stephan Hannemann, VP of Sales & Marketing at Embraer, praised Air Peace’s strategic and innovative approach, noting that upgrading to the E175 will enhance passenger comfort and simplify aircrew management.
Air Peace and her Journey of Creating Jobs for Nigerians
Allen Onyema’s commitment to creating jobs for Nigerians is reflected in Air Peace’s substantial workforce, which currently exceeds 5,000 employees. This growth aligns with his vision to provide employment opportunities and stimulate the local economy. Onyema has stated, “I am over the moon with the prospects of the massive employment opportunities that would be generated by our aircraft orders,” projecting that new acquisitions could create over 10,000 jobs in Nigeria.
Key staff members at Air Peace include Toyin Olajide, Chief Operating Officer; Tracy Osakwe, Head of Sales and Business Development; and Iheuwa Onyema, Director of Engineering and Maintenance. Their roles are vital in executing the airline’s mission and expanding its operations while ensuring safety and efficiency.
Allen Onyema, the founder and CEO of Air Peace, is a prominent figure in Nigeria’s aviation industry, recognised for his commitment to peace advocacy and corporate philanthropy. His achievements have earned him numerous awards over the years, reflecting his impactful contributions to society. Notably, he received the Hope for Humanity Award from Africa News Magazine in 2006 and the Martin Luther King Jr. Global Award of Excellence in 2007 for promoting nonviolence education in Nigeria. In 2009, he was honoured with the Honours Badge by the Mayor of Tuskegee, USA, and in 2012, he received the Pan Nigeria Nationalist Award from the Eminent Friends Group International among many other accolades.
Onyema’s dedication to peace advocacy led to his appointment to the Executive Board of the Global Nonviolence Conference Series, Inc., USA, in 2007, making him the second African ever to hold this position.
As Air Peace celebrates 10 years of outstanding air transport operations, these accolades underscore Onyema’s unwavering commitment to the “no-city-left-behind” initiative; driven by nation-building and societal welfare which has positioned Air Peace as a trailblazer, inspiring change beyond the aviation industry.
Dr Mbamalu is a Jefferson Fellow, member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and a renowned Publisher.
Dr. Marcel Mbamalu is a communication scholar, journalist and entrepreneur. He holds a Ph.D in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and is the Chief Executive Officer Newstide Publications, the publishers of Prime Business Africa.
A seasoned journalist, he horned his journalism skills at The Guardian Newspaper, rising to the position of News Editor at the flagship of the Nigerian press. He has garnered multidisciplinary experience in marketing communication, public relations and media research, helping clients to deliver bespoke campaigns within Nigeria and across Africa.
He has built an expansive network in the media and has served as a media trainer for World Health Organisation (WHO) at various times in Northeast Nigeria. He has attended numerous media trainings, including the Bloomberg Financial Journalism Training and Reuters/AfDB training on Effective Coverage of Infrastructural Development of Africa.
A versatile media expert, he won the Jefferson Fellowship in 2023 as the sole Africa representative on the program. Dr Mbamalu was part of a global media team that covered the 2020 United State’s Presidential election. As Africa's sole representative in the 2023 Jefferson Fellowships, Dr Mbamalu was selected to tour the United States and Asia (Japan and Hong Kong) as part of a 12-man global team of journalists on a travel grant to report on inclusion, income gaps and migration issues between the US and Asia.
