The maiden Nigeria International Air Show, held from December 2‑4, 2025 at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, culminated in two historic recognitions for Air Peace Limited. The airline was named “Airline of the Year,” while its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Allen Onyema, received the “Aviation Executive of the Year” award, underscoring the carrier’s rapid ascent and its founder’s visionary leadership.
The “Airline of the Year” accolade, presented by Hon. Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, highlighted Air Peace’s meteoric growth since its founding in 2014.
Starting with a modest fleet of Dornier 328s and Boeing 737s, the airline now operates a mixed fleet that includes wide‑body Boeing 777s, modern Embraer 195‑E2 jets, and a range of narrow‑body and regional aircraft.
This strategic fleet modernisation has enabled Air Peace to expand both domestically and internationally.
In 2024 the carrier launched its Lagos–London (Gatwick) service, marking its entry into the European market, and in late 2025 it inaugurated a direct Abuja–London (Heathrow) flight – the first ever by a Nigerian airline, signalling its global ambitions and capacity to compete on the world stage.
Minister Keyamo praised the airline’s achievements, saying, “Air Peace’s modern, diverse fleet, broad domestic and regional network, and strategic long‑haul expansion collectively reshape Nigeria’s aviation landscape, expand connectivity, and restore national pride in local carrier capability.”
In a separate ceremony, Dr. Yakubu Adam Kofamata, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, also presented Dr. Allen Onyema with the “Aviation Executive of the Year” award.
The citation recognised Onyema’s transformational role in overhauling West African aviation through Air Peace.
Under his leadership, the airline evolved from a small startup to the largest privately‑owned carrier in West and Central Africa, creating thousands of jobs and linking previously underserved cities through robust domestic and regional networks.
Kofamata remarked, “Dr. Onyema’s founding vision was to use the airline not only as a business venture, but as an engine for economic empowerment, connecting Africa to the world while uplifting Nigerians through jobs, connectivity, and global visibility.”
Both awards reflect not only current success but also a commitment to safety, growth, and national pride.
As Air Peace continues to add capacity and open new routes, the airline cements its status not just as Nigeria’s leading carrier but as a continental aviation powerhouse determined to connect Africa more robustly to the world.
The recognitions at the inaugural Nigeria International Air Show mark a milestone for Air Peace and its leadership, signalling a bold future for Nigerian aviation on the global stage.
