Nigerian airline Air Peace has achieved two major milestones, gaining approval to launch flights to London and expanding into Saudi Arabia. Despite ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s aviation industry, Air Peace continues to grow.
The carrier announced it received a Foreign Carrier Operator Permit (FCOP) from the UK, enabling it to begin flying from Lagos to London. Air Peace will operate the route with its Boeing 777 widebody jets. Launching flights to London is a major achievement for an African airline.
In addition, Air Peace commenced scheduled service to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last week. The inaugural flight from Kano carried 231 passengers. While Air Peace previously operated Hajj charter flights, this new route represents its first scheduled commercial service to Saudi Arabia.
According to Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema, the airline passed stringent audits to gain the UK permit and Saudi route rights. He stated: “We obtained these permits that qualify us to fly to UK. Before you obtain these approvals, they will audit you very well. We obtained the permit last week.”
The London and Jeddah routes demonstrate Air Peace’s rapid growth. The carrier, founded in 2013, has become West Africa’s largest airline. It continues expanding its fleet and network, spreading its wings beyond Nigeria.