Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace, has continued to expand its operations as the airline celebrates its 11th anniversary in the aviation industry.
Founded in 2014, the airline has grown from a modest fleet of seven aircraft to become West Africa’s biggest airline with 38 aircraft in operation. As part of its anniversary activities, Air Peace announced plans to commence new routes between Abuja and London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports, adding to its already successful Lagos to London Gatwick service.
The milestone comes as the company continues to strengthen its position in the international market. In August 2025, Air Peace added a Boeing 777-200ER with registration number 5N-CEG to its fleet, increasing its capacity for long-haul routes. The new additions will enhance its growing presence on the London route, which had long been dominated by foreign airlines. This move demonstrates Air Peace’s commitment to reducing Nigeria’s dependence on foreign carriers while boosting the country’s global aviation footprint.
Reflecting on its growth, Air Peace recalled how it began operations with only three Dornier 328 aircraft for charter services and four Boeing 737-500 jets for passenger and cargo flights. Between 2015 and 2017, the airline expanded its fleet with eight additional Boeing 737-300 aircraft and later introduced six Embraer 145 jets to serve its “No City Left Behind” project under the Air Peace Hopper brand. These strategic additions allowed the airline to connect more Nigerian cities and strengthen its domestic network.
Chairman and CEO, Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, noted that the airline’s expansion reflects its long-term vision to make Nigeria a major aviation hub. He announced that Air Peace will soon launch direct flights from Lagos to São Paulo, Brazil, and from West and Central Africa to the Caribbean by December 2025. Onyema explained that the new routes will drastically cut travel time and create stronger business and tourism ties between Nigeria and the Americas. “Our Lagos–Brazil direct flights will cut travel time to just seven and a half hours,” he said.
Beyond operations, Air Peace has also been recognized for its humanitarian efforts. The airline has repeatedly evacuated stranded Nigerians from conflict zones in countries such as South Africa and Sudan and played a crucial role in delivering medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, the company introduced a Graduate Trainee Programme that will create 1,000 jobs for young Nigerians, while partnering with Embraer to establish a multi-billion-naira Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Lagos. The project, expected to create over 50,000 jobs, aims to make Nigeria self-reliant in aircraft maintenance across West and Central Africa.
As Air Peace celebrates its 11th anniversary, aviation experts have commended its achievements and urged the airline to maintain its standards and innovative spirit. They emphasized the importance of sustaining quality service, staff training, and global competitiveness to ensure continued growth. With its ambitious expansion plans and strong leadership, Air Peace is seen as a beacon of Nigerian excellence and a driving force in Africa’s aviation sector.
