14th Edition of Akwaaba Travel and Tourism Market kicks off at Eko Hotel, Lagos

The best of photos from 14th Edition of Akwaaba Travel and Tourism Expo

Air Peace flight returns to base over false smoke alarm, NCAA renews licence

Air Peace Lagos-Owerri flight returned to base on Friday after a passenger on board informed the crew that he was smelling smoke in the cabin.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Thursday renewed the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of the carrier after months of rigorous audit of its operations.

A statement issued by Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah said the Owerri-bound flight had to return to Lagos as a precautionary measure and in line with the airline’s zero-risk policy.

The flight, the statement said, landed smoothly in Lagos with passengers on board maintaining their calm.

Checks by Air Peace engineers, the statement added, confirmed that there was no smoke anywhere in the aircraft.

“We confirm that our 9 a.m. Lagos-Owerri flight returned to base on Friday after one of our esteemed guests informed our crew that he was smelling smoke in the cabin.

"Although nothing indicated in the flight deck that there was anything wrong with the aircraft, our crew decided to return to base as a precautionary measure and in compliance with our zero-risk policy.

“The aircraft landed smoothly in Lagos and our team of engineers immediately conducted thorough checks on the aircraft while all our guests calmly remained in their seats.

"The checks confirmed that there was neither smoke nor any other fault with the aircraft.

" Despite the assurances of our engineers that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the aircraft, we decided to transfer our valued guests to another aircraft to enable our teams do another round of checks in line with our high safety standards.

“We commend our valued guests for their calm disposition and cooperation while the checks lasted.

" Although checks by our engineers confirmed that the aircraft was in perfect working condition, we encourage our guests to always feel free to share anything they notice in our flight operations with us as critical stakeholders of the Air Peace family”, the airline said.

In another development, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has renewed the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of the carrier after subjecting its operations to months of rigorous audit.

The AOC signed by the Director General of the NCAA, Capt. Usman Muhtar, said Air Peace was authorised to undertake scheduled, cargo and charter operations.

Speaking on the development, Iwarah said it confirmed the sustenance of the high standard of Air Peace’s flight operations.

The airline assured that it would continue to place the safety of its guests and crew above any other consideration.     

Technovation: Air Peace hails, rewards victorious Anambra students with free tickets

Nigeria’s leading carrier, Air Peace has congratulated five Anambra State students and their teachers on emerging victorious in the recent Technology challenge held in the United States, honouring them with free return Owerri-Abuja tickets to facilitate their visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

The five Anambra students from Regina Pacies Secondary School, Onitsha represented Nigeria and Africa at the World Technovation Challenge in the Silicon Valley in San Francisco, United States and defeated Spain, USA, Turkey, Uzbekistan and China to lift the gold medal in the contest.

They were billed for a reception by the Federal Government at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday in company with Miracle Igboke, their mentor and Chief Executive Officer of Edufun Technik STEM, Uchenna Onwuamaegbu Ugwu and principal, Rev. Fr Vincent Ezeaka.

The girls won the technology contest with the mobile application innovation, FD-Detector they developed to assist in checking fake pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.

A statement signed by Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah said the carrier was proud of the schoolgirls’ rare feat.

The development, Air Peace insisted, was proof that its effort to develop engineering capacity in Nigeria’s aviation industry was not a misplaced venture.

“We are very proud of the feat of these young girls from Nigeria. At Air Peace, we believe that given the right environment and encouragement Nigerians will excel in all their undertakings. These girls have proved beyond a doubt that Nigerians possess everything it takes to rank among the best in the world.

“This is the motivation for the huge investment Air Peace has continued to make in the training of young Nigerians in aviation engineering. We will continue to recognise, encourage and reward excellence,” the airline said.

Medview Airline opens sales office at Sheraton Hotel

Ahead of the arrival of a number of its aircraft that went for maintenance, Medview Airline has started to broaden its marketing base with the opening of sales office at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja

In a statement, the airline said the new office will cater for the needs of customers in Ikeja axis and its environs, who cannot make their purchase online or go the airport.

According the CEO, Alhaji Muneer Bankole “our philosophy is to make our services available to all and sundry, devoid of bottlenecks associated with the city traffic”. 

 Bankole said the new sales office is active seven days a week and will compliment the airline sales points located at various airports nationwide, city offices, travel agents as well as online globally.

Air Peace begins night flights on regional routes

Nigeria’s leading carrier, Air Peace has boosted its regional operations with the introduction of night flights out of Lagos, Accra, Banjul and Dakar.

A statement signed by the carrier’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah quoted the Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide as saying the new flights were part of the airline’s strategy to make air travel on the West Coast of Africa seamless and more beneficial.

Olajide described that night flights, which commenced from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Sunday, as a relief for business and leisure travellers on the West Coast looking to utilise their trips to transact their business unrushed.

“We keep reviewing our regional operations in line with our promise to provide seamless, on-time and comfortable flight services. Whatever the travel needs of our esteemed guests, we want to be able to provide a service that fits their plans.

“We have been operating on the West Coast of Africa for more than a year and a half. One thing we have come to realise is that a lot of persons like to travel at night and get to their destinations on time to do their transactions in a calm, unhurried and fruitful manner.

"This is the interest we are catering to with the introduction of night flights. We want our valued guests to arrive at their destinations, go about their business as they wish and still have enough time to prepare for their return trips.

“This is just the beginning of the new innovations and win-win travel options we are bringing to air travel on the West Coast of Africa. We value our guests and are always ready to make our flight schedules and timings as comfortable as possible for them”, she said.

Speaking on the development, a passenger on the night flight from Dakar to Lagos, Nchang Damarisambem said the option met her desire to arrive Lagos on time and continue her onward journey to Calabar for her transaction.

The flight, she said, was a pleasant experience. She pleaded with Air Peace to extend its operations to Yaounde, Cameroun, her country to give the people an opportunity of experiencing its spectacular flight services.

Another passenger on the  Dakar-Lagos flight, Turay Fatmataba said she preferred the night option for long-distance travel. She said the night flight was an easier option for her to get to Freetown, her final destination.

Air Peace takes delivery of another B777, set for international operations

Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, has taken delivery of another  Boeing B777-300 aircraft in preparation for its commencement of international operations.

The 320 capacity  aircraft, christened "Ojochide", touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International  Airport, Lagos at about 1.45 pm on Saturday. 

The aircraft, which was flown in from Dublin, Ireland by Capt. Victor Efionu and Senior Flight Officer Emmanuel  Iwhiwhu, was received by the  Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Mrs Oluwatoyin Olajide and other top aviation personnel. 

Olajide told newsmen that Air Peace  had taken delivery of its first B777-200 aircraft in February, stressing that two more aircraft were being expected before the end of the year to boost the airline's international operations. 

She noted that the Federal Government had granted approval to Air Peace to begin  flights to six international destinations  which are London, Dubai, Sharjah, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg.

"We are very happy with taken delivery of another of our B777 aircraft in preparation for our international operations and we are looking at commencing operations on one of the routes before the last quarter of the year. 

"We believe that this will enable us to create more employment opportunities for Nigerians because that is the reason why we exist. We want to help curb the unemployment situation in the country,"Olajide said. 

According to her, the move will also impact the Nigerian economy positively because it will give Nigerians the opportunity to travel in comfort and safety at affordable fares and help them connect the world.

She thanked the present administration for the support given to Nigerian airlines through removal of Value Added Tax and waivers on aircraft spares. 

The B777-300 aircraft has 12 First Class, 48 Business Class and 260 Economy Class  and it is usually used for long-haul flights. 

Dana Air , MMA2 Partner to Reward Travelers

 

 

Dana Air and Mma2 have entered into a partnership to reward passengers with low-cost tickets when they fly Dana Air from the terminal four times consecutively.

 

 The promo which entails passengers to fly four times with Dana Air and get the 5th one at the rate of N5000 will run for one year.

 

 Speaking on the reward program, the CEO of Bi-courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of MMA2, Captain Jari Williams said, MMA2 has proven to be more than a terminal since inception and our aim is to continue providing not just an end-to-end passenger experience that is seamless and efficient, but providing the best facilities and a reward system for passengers who travel from our terminal.’’

 

 He noted that the partnership to reward customers is part of  MMA2’s  way of incentivizing flying from the terminal and appreciating users of the terminal for their loyalty, stating that the partnership with Dana Air and other airlines operating at the terminal is as a result of the airline’s obvious  commitment to rewarding loyalty.’’

 

 Also speaking on the partnership, Accountable Manager / COO of Dana Air Mr Obi Mbanuzuo said, ‘’Dana Air and MMA2 have always been partners in progress and both brands have built a reputation for their constant desire to not just offer the best of services,  but to cap their services with rewards for customers.’’

 

Commenting further, Obi said ‘this reward program is a good one such that, if you fly four times, you will get the 5th one for just N5000 to fly to any of Dana Air’s destinations. This is definitely a good time for travelers as there is always something to look forward to when you fly." 

 

He therefore advised passengers to visit www.mma2.com.ng , call Tosin on 08174604719 or send a message to Dana Air’s WhatsApp number 0705119063 for more details.   

 

 Dana Air is one of Nigeria’s leading airlines with daily flights from Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Owerri. The airline is reputed for its innovative online products and services, unrivaled on-time departures and arrivals and world-class in-flight service