Louis Ibah
Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has called on the Federal Government to grant Air Peace a flag carrier status to enable it to effectively fill the void created by the absence of a national carrier on international sky.
Obiano, while expressing satisfaction with the number of aircraft the airline has acquired since commencing flight operations in 2014, lauded Air Peace management on the acquisition of its third Boeing 777 aircraft, noting that the firm has what it takes to operate as a flag carrier for Nigeria.
A statement signed by Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba, quoted Obiano as describing Air Peace as Nigeria’s fastest growing and most ambitious airline in history. The statement read in part: “Governor Obiano urges the Federal Government to support Air Peace Airline with a flag carrier status. This is a more pragmatic step to take than the rumoured current attempt in some quarters to make the President Muhammadu Buhari administration establish a state-owned airline, despite the terrible record of Nigeria Airways and the government’s wise decision to suspend Nigeria Air project last September.
“There is no way any state-owned or promoted airline can enhance Nigeria’s reputation in the world that Air Peace is not doing and will continue to do with greater efficiency and results,” the statement added.
Obiano in the statement also commended the professionalism demonstrated by Air Peace staff in their flight operations, saying the airline’s flight services are comparable to those of its international counterparts.
“Of particular interest to both the flying public and the government is Air Peace’s safety record which is excellent owing to the extra mile it goes to not only maintain its machines to the highest global standards, but also make its technical crew regard safety as the highest pursuit in the aviation industry,” The governor said.
Air Peace has so far acquired four Boeing 777 aircraft, three of which have been delivered. Since it commenced operations in 2014, the carrier has increased its fleet size to a total of about 37 aircraft.
Meanwhile, Nigeria and Cape Verde are to commence direct air transport services in a bid to boost trade, commerce and diplomatic relations between the two countries, according to Nigeria’s Minister of State for Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika.
Sirika made the disclosure after a meeting with Cape Verde representatives on the sidelines of a meeting at the just concluded First ICAO/UNWTO Ministerial Conference on Tourism and Air Transport in Africa, held in Sal, Cape Verde.