Air Peace has secured approval to commence direct passenger flights between Lagos and São Paulo, becoming the first Nigerian carrier to establish such a link under the recently signed Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Brazil.
The airline’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, confirmed the development to journalists in Brasília on Tuesday, following the conclusion of the BASA during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil. The agreement was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Filhos, in the presence of Presidents Tinubu and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Onyema described the new Lagos–São Paulo route as “long overdue,” calling it a major breakthrough for Nigeria’s aviation sector and a step toward unlocking economic and cultural opportunities between Africa’s and South America’s largest economies. “The Nigerian and Brazilian economies are both rich in human and natural resources. Without aviation, it is difficult to maximise these opportunities. Aviation is a catalyst for development, and this new link is critical to driving growth,” he said.
According to Onyema, Air Peace will begin operations on the route by late November 2025, starting with three weekly flights and gradually expanding as passenger demand and operational dynamics evolve. He added that the service would initially run on the Lagos–Rio de Janeiro–São Paulo–Lagos circuit, further strengthening ties between the two regions.
The Presidency also confirmed the development, with Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, noting that the direct flights represent a strategic dividend of the Nigeria–Brazil BASA and a major milestone in Nigeria’s bid to deepen global partnerships.
The new route is expected to boost trade, tourism, investment, and people-to-people exchanges between Nigeria and Brazil, while enhancing Air Peace’s growing international footprint as a key player in connecting Africa to the world.
