Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace, on January 22, 2024 launched its inaugural flight operations to Abidjan, the capital of Cote d’Ivoire. This makes it the ninth regional destination the airline will fly into in its nine years of operation.
The maiden flight, P47770 on a B737-500 aircraft captained by Gerald Nmorka, landed at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan, receiving a warm welcome with a ceremonial water salute.
The airline’s management, led by Director of Flight Operations, Capt. Augustin Kamano, was greeted by Ivory Coast’s airport authorities, officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, and the Nigerian community.
Captain Kamano emphasized Air Peace’s commitment, under the leadership of Dr. Allen Onyema, to enhancing connectivity among West African nations and easing the air travel burden for Africans.
Highlighting future plans, Captain Kamano announced the upcoming launch of the airline’s 10th regional route to Cotonou in Benin Republic on January 27, 2024.
He also mentioned the possibility for passengers to fly from Abidjan to Dakar, Senegal, further expanding Air Peace’s regional reach.
Captain Kamano expressed the significance of the Nigeria-Ivory Coast relationship, stating that the launch would strengthen commercial cooperation and bilateral ties between the two countries.
Since its inception in 2014, Air Peace has pursued an ambitious route expansion strategy, aiming to connect key cities in the West African sub-region and beyond.
In response to the timely initiation of the flight operation, Charge d’Affairs at the Embassy of Nigeria in Abidjan, Itam Akpama, acknowledged the importance of the service during the ongoing African Cup of Nations Competition in Ivory Coast. She pledged the full support of the Nigerian Embassy and Nigerians in Côte d’Ivoire.
The President of the Nigerian Community in Ivory Coast, Chief Michael Onwuchelu, commended Air Peace’s Chairman for bridging the African continent through air transportation. In expressing his gratitude for the initiative, he said, “This is our own, and we must specially support Air Peace. Côte d’Ivoire has been a hospitable country, and we are all happy here. We will support our own.”
