By ITOHAN ABARA-LASERIAN

Air Peace Airline has announced the commencement of Abuja to Heathrow Airport in London on Oct. 26 after receiving grant from the British authority.

The Chairman of the airline, Dr Allen Onyema, made the announcement at a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos.

Onyema disclosed that the grant was as a result of the confidence the international aviation community has in the airline.

He also announced that before the end of year, the airline would add Congo, Garbon and Brazzaville to its schedule.

Onyema said that the flights from Abuja to London Heathrow would be four times weekly, with Lagos to London Gatwick three time daily.

He also said there would be direct flights to the Caribbean, particularly Antigua in September and later, to Barbados.

The airline boss assured increased fleet capacity of Boeing 777, wide bodied aircraft acquisition as a result of the dry lease financing, among other new aircraft to match the schedules.

According to him, the airline has 36 outrightly purchased aircraft and four on wet lease, with new aircraft expected soon.

He assured passengers of on-time services, saying ?since May 12, we have posted over 85 per cent on-time performance.

?For the new Air Peace you are about to see, we assure our passengers of on-time services and we are upgrading our Customer Service.?

On flight delays and cancellations, Onyema said 94 per cent were not caused by the airline but external forces.

He identified the causes as: weather, infrastructure, bird strikes, inadequate landing equipment, sunset airports, unruly passengers, animal strikes, among others.

He explained that ?in the last five years, we recorded 100 bird strikes; this year alone, over 30 bird strikes, these strikes will affect other flights scheduled for that day.

?We do not cancel for the fun of it, we cancel when necessary?, he said.

Onyema noted that the airline has international validations because of its safety measures.

He also announced that the airline would restart China route soon, as well as other regional and international routes.

He commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, for ensuring ease of doing business in the industry.

He added that ?the sector had never had it so good, as Nigeria would soon take delivery of dry lease aircraft as a result of the doggedness of the minister.?

He expressed the hope that Nigerians would patronise and support the airline. (NAN)

*PLS USE AIRBOUND AIR PEACE PLANE

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