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Air Peace Immortalises 1976 Olympics, 1980 Sports Heroes, Gifts them Free Flight Tickets for Life, Cash Rewards


It was both momentous and emotional as the heroes of the 1976 Olympics Games and members of the 1980 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) National Team (Green Eagles) were decorated as Air Peace Sports Diplomacy Ambassadors.
 
The investiture, which held at Eko Hotel in Lagos, on Friday night, July 28, 2023, was preceded by the unveiling of the newly created Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame with the names of the athletes and players boldly inscribed.
 
The unveiling and recognition, coming 47 years after the botched Olympic event, was initiated by Air Peace to rekindle the memory of the events at the time and the sacrifices made by the athletes.
 
Nigeria had led other 27 African countries to boycott the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada in protest against the failure of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to withdraw New Zealand from the Games for their ‘romance’ with the Apartheid regime in South Africa.
 
After preparing for four years, and spending 10 days in the Games Village with other athletes around the world, about a few hours to the commencement of the games, the Nigerian delegation got a call from the then military President, General Olusegun Obasanjo to return to the country.
 
Also, the Green Eagles players who did the nation proud by beating Algeria 3-0 and lifting the 1980 AFCON Cup also benefitted from the Air Peace’s recognition.
 
Some of the then Olympics Games Heroes and members of the AFCON 1980 National Team were at the event on Friday night while those who are late among them were represented by their family members.
 
Chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, who is the brain behind the recognition said it was the least that could be done for those heroes who gave their all for their fatherland.
 
He said the Olympics Heroes at the time had a choice to ignore the call of their nation by participating as individuals but they chose their nation over their individual interests.
 
According to him, it was a sober moment for them as they had worked hard for the games and nursed high hopes of becoming great medalists from their participation in the games.
 
Amidst tears and wailing, they respected their country, he said, adding, “we in Air Peace decided that this act of sacrifice must never go unnoticed.”
 
He said Nigeria must imbibe the culture of celebrating and honouring those who sacrificed for the country. He added, “We are not doing them any favour with this. They are the ones doing us a favour. They have done this country great favours by sacrificing the opportunities that beckoned on them in their youth for the wellbeing of not only the black race but mankind in general.
 
“Today we have before you eminent Nigerians who in their prime had hopes but those hopes were dashed with just one political statement. They prepared for the Olympics for four years, some left school to concentrate on the upcoming global event. They qualified, they were airlifted to Canada, played several matches along the line, beat everybody that crossed their lines, just some seven hours to the commencement of the games that had so much hopes for these young men and women, the Nigerian government called on them to boycott the games and return home with immediate effect".
 
The honourees at the event who were visibly excited, said the gesture was unprecedented and it was a recognition they never expected. They were given free Business Class(unlimited domestic travels and 1 International annually)Tickets for life to any Air Peace destination. Each of them also received 1.5M naira cheque and officially made Air Peace Ambassador. 
 
Segun Odegbami popularly known as Mathematical Odegbami who scored two goals during the AFCON Finals against Algeria in 1980 with Mudashir Lawal, now late, netting the third goal, said the gesture was surreal and commended the Air Peace Chairman for the initiative.

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Air Peace Commences Lome Operations, To launch Cotonou, Abidjan, Kinshasa soon
Nigeria's leading airline, Air Peace, is expanding its regional connectivity with the launch of the Lome(Togo) route on July 28, 2023, a news release issued by the airline on Thursday, July 13, 2023, has revealed. The airline has also announced special flights to Antigua between August 5 and 9, 2023, in partnership with Tour Brokers International.
 
The airline said the Lagos-Lome-Lagos route will be operated with the 50-seater Embraer 145 jets.
 
"We are expanding our West African presence to strategically connect key cities in the sub-region, ease connectivity for Africans, and strengthen commercial ties between countries.
 
"Air Peace is committed to easing the air transportation burden of Africans, and this will continue to drive our route expansion as well as fleet modernization. We also recently received two Boeing 737-700 aircraft to further strengthen our domestic and regional operations", the release stated.
 
On the Antigua operations, Air Peace disclosed that it is offering the best flight deals for customers who plan to travel for the Antigua Carnival from August 5-9, 2023, plus bespoke hotel packages from Tour Brokers International, while adding that customers can contact businessdevelopment@flyairpeace.com for more inquiries.
 
Similarly, the foremost airline hinted that plans are in top gear to resume China soon, adding that more connections and routes like Congo Kinshasa and Abidjan are in the works. With Lome operations, Air Peace's regional route strength will increase to eight, including Douala and Niamey launched in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
 
Air Peace, with an increasing, mixed modern fleet of B737s, E195-E2s, B777s, E145s, Airbus 320s, and a Dornier 328, leads Nigeria’s aviation industry with a network of twenty domestic routes, seven regional routes, and five international destinations.

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Air Peace Begins Lome July 28, Announces Special Antigua Flights
Nigeria’s foremost airline, Air Peace, on Friday, July 28, 2023, commenced flight operations between Lagos and Lome, Togo’s capital, while promising to launch Cotonou, Abidjan and Kinshasa routes soon.
 
The airline’s Safety Manager, Capt. Godfrey Ogbogu, who spoke shortly after the Embraer 195-E2 touched down at the Gnassingbe Eyadema International Airport, Lome on Friday morning, said the launch of Lome operations makes it ‘eight regional routes in less than nine years since inception.’
 
He said that the ‘no-city-left-behind initiative’ of Air Peace is not just for domestic operations but for regional cities and beyond and that the launch into Lome has given credence to the ties between Nigeria and Togo and will foster commercial cooperation as well as deepen bilateral ties between both countries.
 
“In March 2022, we launched Niamey in Niger Republic and we’re expanding further with the commencement of flights into Lome, Togo. It suffices to say we’re on a mission to ease air travel and bridging the connectivity gap among West African countries, and we’re quite delighted that Togo is joining our route network, making it eight regional routes in less than nine years since inception. Togo and Nigeria currently have strong socio-economic ties and both countries have collaborated on significant fronts.
 
“Nigerians come to Togo for business and other purposes and the launch of this connectivity adds fillip to this economic exchange between both countries and also advances development. We’re reputed for our no-city-left-behind initiative and this is not just for domestic operations. Our no-city-left-behind drive extends to the West Coast, as we’re poised to continually interconnect key cities in the sub-region, making it easy for Africans to maximize the payoffs of air travel for the collective development of all the nations.
 
“In keeping with this corporate ambition, we’re launching, very soon, flight operations into Cotonou in Benin Republic, Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire, Congo Kinshasa, and Malabo in Equatorial Guinea. Before the end of 2023, some of these routes will have been launched, because they’re already in the works. Air Peace will continue to provide best-in-class flight services, driven by a customer-first orientation and hinged on strict adherence to established safety standards.
 
“We’re also modernizing and increasing our fleet, especially with the brand new Embraer 195-E2 aircraft, to continue to give our customers a matchless experience on board- whether domestic, regional, or international. We currently boast of twenty domestic routes, eight regional and five international destinations, including Israel, India, and China. Also planned for launch in the future are Houston-USA and London. We’re constantly reviewing our route network in line with the travel needs of the flying public. We thank the Togolese authorities, our partners here, and the Nigerian Government for making this possible,” he said.
 
Earlier, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Togo, Adebowale Adesina, who along with Togo’s Minister of Transportation, Atcha Affoh, and other dignitaries, were at the airport to witness the arrival of the flight, said the commencement of Togo operations is a result of concerted efforts by the governments of Nigeria and Togo and also Air Peace to boost trade between both nations and ensure ease of movement across West Africa.
 
“As we are aware, a very large number of Nigerians live, work, or do business in Togo. A huge number of other nationals pass through Togo to do business across West Africa and the rest of Africa. This great country, especially its capital, Lome, the city of peace, therefore, is a great hub for business across the length and breadth of Africa.
 
“The success we celebrate today is not only a dream come true for Air Peace, it is indeed the product of concerted efforts by the governments of Nigeria and Togo as well as Air Peace to boost trade between our nations and ensure ease of movement across West Africa. We have defied the odds to make it a point of duty to come and witness the maiden Air Peace flight to Lome.
 
“Aviation is an essential sector for our region’s development, particularly as we work towards sustainable intra-African trade. We, therefore, celebrate with Air Peace Nigeria on this milestone and commend its commitment to providing smooth air transport services to Nigerians, to the Togolese, West Africans and, indeed, all Africans,” he said.

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SUDAN CRISIS: AIR PEACE EVACUATES 277 NIGERIANS FROM EGYPT.Nigeria's leading airline, Air Peace, has evacuated 277 Nigerians from Egypt amidst the ongoing crisis in Sudan. The airline deployed one of its wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft with Registration Number 5N-BVE, to operate the evacuation flight which arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, around 23:00hrs on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. The aircraft had departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos at 15:10hrs on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

The Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, in his unique show of altruism and patriotism, had offered to freely airlift Nigerians from the war-hit country of Sudan, requesting the Federal Government to get them to a neighbouring country, as the Sudanese airspace is temporarily closed for civil aviation. Onyema said the stranded Nigerians needed urgent assistance, adding that: “I am compelled to help because Nigeria cannot afford to lose her citizens in that country. It would be my own commitment to making sure that the stranded Nigerians in the war-torn country are safe. “Everything must not be left for the government alone, especially as the situation calls for urgency and immediate action". He stated in a recent interview on Arise TV, that he was ready to deploy three aircraft, including the jumbo Boeing 777, to airlift his fellow countrymen seeking safety from the troubled North African country.

With the arrival of this flight, Onyema has made good his promise and thanked the Federal Government for its role in making the evacuation flight possible. This is not the first time Onyema has magnanimously deployed his aircraft for humanitarian purposes. It can be recalled that in 2019, he freely airlifted 503 stranded Nigerians amidst the xenophobic onslaught in South Africa. During the COVID-19 period in 2020, some of his aircraft were also used for repatriation of Nigerians from several countries, not forgetting the evacuation flights operated by his airline during the Ukraine-Russia crisis in 2022.

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Air Peace Expands Presence In North East With Maiduguri Operations.NIGERIA’S leading airline, Air Peace, has added Maiduguri to its network with four flight frequencies weekly. The airline operated its maiden flight to the Borno State capital on April 21, 2023. With this new route, Air Peace now services 21 domestic routes.

According to the airline’s Spokesperson, Stanley Olisa, this is yet another big stride in the airline’s route expansion drive, adding “we are very glad to be commencing flight services into Maiduguri, Borno State. It clearly demonstrates our commitment to the provision of increased connectivity for Nigerians. “Air Peace is filling the gaps in Nigeria’s air travel, giving the flying public more network options.

With the support of the state government, under the visionary leadership of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum CON, whom we are very grateful to, Air Peace is promising the people of Maiduguri and its environs seamless air travel.

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Air Peace makes histoty Commences Two Weekly Flights To IsraelWEST and Central Africa’s largest carrier, Air Peace, has, again, made another history as the first ever Nigerian airline to fly direct, nonstop to Israel. The airline commenced scheduled operations into Tel Aviv on April 20, 2023, from Lagos and Abuja. At the well-attended inaugural flight ceremony held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the Chairman of Air Peace, Barrister Allen Onyema, said history has been made in the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Israel through the commencement of direct, nonstop flights from Lagos and Abuja to the city of Tel Aviv.

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Air Peace Restarts Makurdi Operations with 3 Weekly FlightsNIGERIA’S leading airline, Air Peace, resumed flights to Makurdi from Lagos and Abuja today, April 17, 2023. The relaunch flight, which departed Lagos, connecting through Abuja, was welcomed at the MakurdI Airport with a ceremonial water salute, marking a comeback of the airline to Benue State after suspending the route in 2021

Air Peace Restarts Makurdi Operations with 3 Weekly Flights

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Air Peace Commences Direct Mumbai ServiceWEST and Central Africa’s leading airline, Air Peace, in its characteristic way of setting aviation records, achieved another first on March 31, 2023, by launching direct, nonstop flight services to Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra State in Southwestern India.

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New 'Bird' Alert!We've just received a new 165 seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft to further support our domestic and regional operations. We'll continue to close the gaps in Nigeria’s air travel through strategic route connectivity and fleet expansion. April 25 2023

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Onyema Begins His Golden Years.Barr. Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, Chairman of West Africa’s largest airline, Air Peace Limited, on March 28, 2023, celebrated his birthday in grand style at the company’s corporate headquarters, with a surprise party at the lush event hall of the Providence by Mantis in Lagos.

Onyema Begins His Golden Years.

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Meet the New King and Queen of the AirA new Aviation Royal Couple emerged on February 9, 2023, at the 12th edition of the Nigeria Aviation Awards (NIGAV). The new King of the Air, Ikpa Elvis of ValueJet and the Queen of the Air, Jennifer Nwankwo of Air Peace, clinched the crowns during the grand finale of the ceremony

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Air Peace Introduces More Flights on Enugu, Owerri RouteNigeria’s leading airline Air Peace has introduced new flights on its Enugu and Owerri routes, a news release by the airline on Monday, November 28, 2022, has revealed. The airline disclosed that it has introduced Owerri-Lagos 09:10, Lagos-Owerri 15:30, Enugu-Lagos 07:20 and Lagos-Enugu 17:00 flights

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Air Peace Offers Free, Immediate Evacuation Of Nigerians Trapped In Warring Sudan Air Peace Offers Free, Immediate Evacuation Of Nigerians Trapped In Warring Sudan

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