Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema and CFO Ejiro Eghagha are facing serious allegations from the US Department of Justice, which include charges of obstruction of justice and submitting false documents. Onyema has publicly denied all wrongdoing and expressed his readiness to defend himself in court. The airline acknowledges that these charges are part of a broader investigation that has been ongoing for several years. Despite the legal challenges, Air Peace assures its customers that operations will continue without disruption [ba675388].
In the context of these allegations, Air Peace is also focused on its expansion plans, which include new flights from Abuja to New York and Houston by the end of 2024. To facilitate this growth, Onyema aims to acquire three Boeing 777s, enhancing the airline's capacity for long-haul operations [ba675388].
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Ministry of Aviation has established conditions for local airlines, including Air Peace, to operate flights to the United States. Airlines must demonstrate increased capacity and consistency before being granted access to the US route. This initiative aims to bolster Nigeria's presence in international aviation and ensure local operators maintain control over international routes. The government is also pursuing lower costs for international flights and enhancing business interactions with Uganda, with Uganda Airlines planning to add Abuja to its routes [086d5248].
In a related development, United Airlines announced it will operate daily flights between Lagos and Washington, D.C., starting December 4, 2024, until February 14, 2025. This expansion will increase seat availability by 133% and utilize Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, providing Nigerian travelers with more options and connections to over 70 destinations in the Americas [f363a4ec].
However, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) clarified that Nigeria was not banned from US Category One status due to security concerns; rather, the delisting occurred because no Nigerian airline currently provides direct flights to the US. The last airline to do so was Arik Air, which suspended its New York flights on February 3, 2017. The US began delisting Category One countries in September 2022, affecting nations lacking compliance with international safety standards. Despite this, Nigerian airlines can still operate US routes via wet lease arrangements. NCAA's Acting Director General, Chris Najomo, emphasized that Nigeria's oversight system is safe, following a successful ICAO audit [ffce9a25].
Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, is actively pursuing international campaigns to restore Nigeria's Category One status. In a positive development, Delta Airlines plans to resume daily flights to Lagos from New York-JFK starting December 1, 2024. Meanwhile, Air Peace's expansion plans align with the government's efforts to promote Nigerian airlines in the global aviation market [ffce9a25][7dec9bf8].
