GOVERNOR of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has urged the federal government to support Air Peace with flag carrier status and has extolled the airlines safety record.
The governor made this known in a congratulatory message to the airline following the delivery of its third Boeing 777 aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on March 20, 2019.
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.
Expressing satisfaction with the number of aircraft the airline had acquired since it commenced flight operations in 2014, the governor said: “Of particular interest to both the flying public and the government is its 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”.
He commended the professionalism demonstrated by Air Peace staff in their flight operations, saying the airline’s flight services were comparable to those of its international counterparts.
Obiano urged the Federal Government to support the airline with a flag carrier status, insisting: “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 suspension of Nigeria Air last September”.
He added: “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”.
For its part, the National Union of Air Transport Employees said the airline’s third Boeing 777 aircraft would transform the experience of the travelling public.
Meanwhile, in another congratulatory letter dated March 28 and addressed to Air Peace Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Allen Onyema, the President of NUATE, Mr. Ben Nnabue said: “We strongly believe that this new vessel will usher in a luxury experience to the travelling public as safety is already guaranteed.â€
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.
Air Peace’s recently acquisitions are for its long-haul operations to Sharjah, Dubai, Johannesburg, London, Houston, Guangzhou and Mumbai.
