Air Peace receives IATA membership certificate

Air Peace, over the weekend, received its membership certificate from global aviation body, International Air Transport Association (IATA) after the successful completion of IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) audit earlier this year.

Presenting the much coveted IATA certificate to the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, IATA Area Manager, West Africa, Dr. Samson Fatokun said that the Nigeria carrier has joined the less than 300 IATA members out of the thousands of airlines around the world that applied for membership.

He said the membership is a testament to Air Peace’s compliant with global safety standards and commended the airline for scaling the huddles and achieving the feat which he said has opens limitless vista of opportunities for the airline across the world.

Among such opportunities the much-coveted membership of the air transport global cleaning house Fatokun said will offer Air Peace include competing in the international market, participating

In the multilateral interlining in the international traffic, exposure to the flow of traffic BPS, participation in IATA trainings among others.

The IATA Chief said, ” We are proud to be associated with Air Peace, since July, the airline is now on the same footing with world big carriers and that give them a new good image.

“Such certification makes all the big carriers anywhere in the world to know that the airline management and maintenance are safe. It gives the passengers more assurance and confidence, meaning that they have met all the requirements and complied with all safety standards and practices in their operations.

He said It is a very good and big achievement for the airline and Nigeria because It takes a very rigorous system to actualise it.

Responding, Air Peace boss, Onyema thanked IATA for giving the airline a world view since May this year when it received it IOSA certificate saying the IATA membership has place a new challenge on the airline to attain a level in it operations.

He disclosed that by middle of December 2017, the airline will deliver a new set of 11 aircraft that will be injected into the domestic operation and proposed international destinations.

Onyema said Air Peace will fly into every continents of the world, as plans are underway to increase the fleet to 48 aircraft from the present 24 by 2019 and called on the global body to continue to create the enabling environment for airlines to compete especially young airline like Air Peace.

Also while applauding the federal government he said, “I thank the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for giving us six destinations they gave us and I will not disappoint them. With the IATA membership, most reputable airlines will be willing to partner with us. We will represent creditably wherever we will fly into.

While disclosing that plans are at advance stage to commence codeshare operations with two renowned carrier, he said it applications to commence operations into Ghanzou in China, Dubai, Houston in Texas, London, India and others are receiving attention from the countries authorities.

Onyema also disclosed that following the intervention of the FG, countries like Cameroun, Senegal, Liberia, Togo, Ivory Coast which hitherto had refused to allow them operate into their countries has written them to begin the processes of flying into their aerodrome.

“Air Peace has been permitted to fly to Cameroun after two and half years , same for Sierra Leone, Liberia, though they gave us 60 days, Togo, the first people that stopped us wrote a letter of apology and has given us permit, Côte d’Ivoire. The other areas we are facing some challenges is charges’ our government is looking into it.

We started with four Boeing 737 aircraft and three Donier Jets; and we later sold three of our Donier Jets, as I speak to you today, your favourite airline has 24 aircraft under a space of two and a half years, this would not have been possible if we are not financially disciplined, it is our integrity and God Almighty that has led us this far, we have enough equipment to do whatever we want to do. Eleven aircraft are coming in between now and December.”

Onyema said the airline is able to get fuel due to the “Integrity of the airline, we fulfill our promises to marketers, we don’t owe them, it takes financial discipline to do that, we don’t borrow out of limit, that is why

Air Peace is successful, the banks are even running after us to take money, when we borrow, we pay back. In the next two years, the fleet we double, we are going to touch every continent next year with the support of government.”

He told the IATA delegation that ” we promise to continue to be member of IATA forever. For us the will is there and we will not short change safety. We are safety-centric and obsessed. What IATA membership represent is a good challenge for us coming into the airline business.”

In a space of 3 years, we have gone global thanks to our customers and staff who continues to make us tick.
He called on the world to respect Nigeria airlines wherever they go saying ” the same way legacy carriers are treated must be applicable to us.”

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo