Air Peace, Nigeria’s leading airline, will begin direct flights from Lagos to São Paulo in late November.
AirPeace CEO, Allen Onyema disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking to journalists in Brasília.
Onyema shared the development following the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The BASA, inked by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Filhos, under the oversight of Presidents Tinubu and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, paves the way for enhanced aviation ties.
“We’re gearing up to start operations by the last week of November to December this year,” Onyema announced.
Onyema hailed the agreement as a transformative step for Nigeria’s aviation industry, crediting President Tinubu’s leadership.
“This is a milestone. President Tinubu’s international engagements are yielding dividends for our nation,” he said.
He further noted, “The BASA signed between Nigeria and Brazil, with Air Peace designated to operate flights, marks a significant achievement.”
Highlighting the potential of the new route, Onyema remarked, “The Lagos–Brazil corridor is long overdue, with immense opportunities for both economies. Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, and Brazil, Latin America’s largest, are rich in resources and potential.”
He outlined the airline’s plan to start with three weekly flights, with routes covering Lagos to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro before returning to Lagos.
“We’ll begin with three flights a week, but as demand grows, we can scale up,” he added.
At the signing ceremony, President Lula da Silva emphasized the deal’s broader impact, stating, “Direct flights operated by Air Peace between Lagos and São Paulo will strengthen ties between our societies.”
President Tinubu echoed this sentiment, expressing confidence that the agreement would enhance economic and cultural connections between the two nations. (NAN)
