By Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo
In line with its reputation as West and Central Africa’s largest airline, Air Peace Limited has been honoured with the “Airline of the Year” Award at the maiden edition of the Nigeria International Air Show, held from December 2nd to 4, 2025 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The award, presented by Festus Keyamo, the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, recognizes Air Peace’s meteoric rise and transformative impact on Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Since its founding in 2014, Air Peace has grown from a modest fleet of Dornier 328s and Boeing 737s to one of the most formidable carriers in Africa. Today, the airline boasts a mixed fleet that includes wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft, modern Embraer 195-E2 jets, and other narrow-body and regional aircraft, a clear demonstration of its strategic investments in fleet modernization and capacity expansion.
On the route front, Air Peace has significantly expanded its reach, both domestically and internationally. In 2024, the airline launched its Lagos–London (Gatwick) service, marking its entry into the European market. In late 2025, it further extended its international footprint by inaugurating a direct Abuja–London (Heathrow) flight — the first ever by a Nigerian airline, thereby signaling the airline’s global ambitions and capacity to compete on the world stage.
These achievements; a modern, diverse fleet, a broad domestic/regional network, and strategic long-haul expansion, collectively underscore why Air Peace stood out at the Nigeria International Air Show.
The “Airline of the Year” award recognizes not just its current success, but its role in reshaping Nigeria’s aviation landscape, expanding connectivity, and restoring national pride in local carrier capability.
As Air Peace continues to grow, the award cements its status not just as Nigeria’s leading airline, but as a continental aviation powerhouse determined to connect Africa more robustly to the world.
