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Triangle Magazine International has named Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema as its Entrepreneur of The Year. This followed his achievements in the aviation sector.
Triangle Magazine International publisher, Femi Salako, said Onyema has made patriotic sacrifices in repositioning the aviation industry to deserve the award. Salako said: “Air Peace, which was registered by Allen Onyema with Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), commenced commercial operations in 2014.
Air Peace has in less than 10 years become the airline of choice for Nigerians and foreigners alike. “The efficiently run Air Peace, under the management of Allen Onyema has recorded steady and astronomical growth in less than a decade of operations.
“The airline now boasts of 20 domestic routes and eight regional and seven international destinations. The International routes are Guangzhou, Dubai, Johannesburg, Jeddah, Mumbai, Tel Aviv, Banjul, Accra, Dakar and London.
“It should be noted that the recently commenced lucrative London route by Air Peace has brought unimaginable price relief to Nigerian air travellers. Entry of Air Peace into the London route has lately sparked price wars between it and some foreign airlines.
“The price war has effectively led to a significant reduction in air tickets for Lagos-London and Abuja-London routes. Deserved credit must be given to the patriotic and pan-Nigerian spirit of Allen Onyema, whose dogged entry in total the London route has halted the exorbitant price hitherto charged Nigerian air travelers by foreign airlines.
“Air Peace now operates a mixed fleet of 13 Boeing 737s, 1 Dornier 328-300 Jet, 3 Boeing 777s, 8 Embraer 145s, 5 Embraer 195- E2s, and 10 Airbus 320s. “Steady growth and effective management of Air Peace has necessitated the need for the government of Antigua and Barbuda to partner with the Nigerian indigenous airline to help revive the Caribbean national carrier LIAT.
The airline is, however, expected to operate under a new name. In line with the agreement signed by both parties, it is therefore expected of Air Peace to acquire a majority stake in LIAT.
“Aside from businesses, empowerment and advocacy for peace, Allen Onyema has equally etched his name in Nigeria’s history with his philanthropic commitments.
In 2023, he patriotically deployed Air Peace aircraft for the evacuation of 277 Nigerians who got stranded at the Egyptian border due to the war in Sudan.
“Allen had earlier airlifted for free, 503 Nigerians who became stranded in South Africa during the xenophobic attacks on foreigners. He also freely evacuated more than 300 Nigerians who became stranded in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia in 2020 during COVID-19.”
