Nnenna Allen Onyema, Executive Director, International Operations, Air Peace, addressing guests at the reception hosted by Heathrow airport management in honour of Air Peace Airlines’ maiden flight to the facility
The resilience of Air Peace Airlines and the unflinching support from the federal government of Nigeria, have jointly enabled Air Peace Airlines to hoist the nation’s flag among first-class airlines in the world; as the Abuja-London Heathrow Airport route was relaunched on Sunday, 26th October 2025. A route abandoned for well over a decade.
Executive Director, International Operations for Air Peace, Miss Nnenna Onyema, made it known at a brief reception organized by London Heathrow Airport authorities to celebrate the airlines’ first flight to one of the oldest, and one of the most prestigious airports in the world.
She described the restoration of the route as a “symbol of national pride and resilience,” emphasising that it represents more than just a new route but a renewed declaration of Nigeria’s presence in global aviation.
“For years, there was silence in the skies,” she stated. “Today, that silence ends. Our flag flies again because, as we say back home, ‘Naija no dey carry last.’”
She highlighted that Air Peace, under the leadership of its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Allen Onyema, has grown impressively in just 11 years of operations.
Nnenna gloss through the airlines’ thus, “a fleet of more than 30 aircraft, the company is now the biggest privately owned carrier in West and Central Africa and the first Nigerian airline to acquire and register a Boeing 777, a clear indicator of our intent and commitment to operate on the global stage”
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On the airlines’ sustained efforts to continually enhance safety, she added that “since 2016, Air Peace has also maintained its International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification, underscoring its adherence to global safety standards”.
According to the media statement from Air Peace, “the launch of the London–Abuja route, will enhance accessibility, affordability, and connectivity for Nigerians and wider African diaspora. Through Air Peace’s extensive network, passengers can travel beyond Abuja to destinations across West Africa, the network enables onward connectivity from Ghana, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Senegal”.
Air Peace credited the Nigerian government for its support of indigenous airlines, extending appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for policies that have promoted ease of doing business within the aviation sector.
The airline also expressed gratitude to the management of London Heathrow Airport and its project team for their collaboration in facilitating the flight’s successful launch.
“This new operation is a seed of hope,” the company affirmed. “It marks the rebirth of Nigeria’s aviation strength and a future where our nation connects seamlessly with the world — stronger, prouder, and ready to compete globally.”
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