KEY POINTS
- Air Peace opens Nigeria–Brazil direct air link.
- Flight cuts hours from existing travel routes.
- Move further strengthens trade and cultural exchange.
Air Peace, Nigeria’s biggest private airline, has started the first direct flight between Lagos, Nigeria, and São Paulo, Brazil. The milestone came after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva inked an agreement for bilateral air service.
Fewer trips, stronger ties
It used to take travelers between Nigeria and Brazil up to 20 hours to get to Europe or the Middle East. The new Lagos–São Paulo flight cuts down on travel time a lot, which further will assist business, tourism, and cultural ties between the two countries expand.
The revelation happens at the same time as Air Peace is pressing forward with plans to build a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Lagos. The idea should also help the carrier grow its presence around the world by making operations more efficient and cutting down on costly maintenance work done abroad.
People talking on the big day
The inaugural flight was on a Boeing 777, and Air Peace stated they had also ordered 21 Embraer jets from Brazil to make room for more passengers. Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, said the inauguration was a “major step forward” for bringing people and businesses together.
Allen Onyema, the head of Air Peace, said the new service gives “huge opportunities for both nations.” Brazil’s President Lula da Silva said it was a “turning point” for more cooperation in aviation, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Air Peace’s growth and further global reach
According to the reports from Billionaires Africa, Air Peace started in 2013 and now operates 32 planes. It goes to 20 places in Nigeria and 11 places outside of Nigeria, including London, Accra, and Freetown. The Lagos–São Paulo route reveals that it aspires to be the major means for Africans to get to South America. This is especially true given it has more Embraer planes on order.
