Air Peace, over the weekend, disclosed that it has started its direct, non-stop commercial flight from Nigeria to Isreal.
LEADERSHIP reports that the airline had commenced scheduled operations into Tel Aviv on Thursday, April 20, 2023, from Lagos and Abuja.
At the well-attended inaugural flight ceremony held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the chairman of Air Peace, Barrister Allen Onyema, said history has been made in the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Israel through the commencement of direct, nonstop flights from Lagos and Abuja to the city of Tel Aviv.
He said: “This is undoubtedly a big milestone as, for the first time, a Nigerian airline is connecting both countries directly through scheduled commercial flights.”
Onyema said, the airline was delighted particularly because this new route will provide huge respite to Nigerian travellers who, henceforth, do not have to travel to Israel through other countries, spending over 20 hours in stopovers whereas a direct flight is less than six hours.
“Our entry into Israel today will open up more layers of opportunities and possibilities socially, and economically, and advance the implementation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Nigeria and Israel. The connectivity will boost ‘religious tourism’, especially factoring the numerous Nigerians who embark on pilgrimage trips to Israel”, the Air Peace chairman stated.
He stressed that the airline is familiar with Israeli airspace as it operated evacuation flights to the country in 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Onyema expressed gratitude to the Israeli government, especially, its Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, the minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) and other stakeholders whose efforts made this launch possible.
Ambassador Freeman expressed joy over the new connectivity, stressing that it would help deepen bilateral ties between both countries and promote mutually beneficial economic engagements.
Speaking, the governor of Ebonyi State, Engr David Umahi, commended Onyema for his strides in aviation. He added that the growth of Air Peace has shown that a Nigerian can make sustainable global inroads in aviation as Air Peace is solidly representing Nigeria in the international aviation community.
The minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, represented by the director of Air Transport Management, Ministry of Aviation, Mr Hassan Ejibunu, reiterated the support of the government to indigenous airlines and promised government’s continued assistance to Air Peace in its route expansion drive.
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