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Air Peace Limited and its Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Allen Onyema, emerged as the foremost honourees at the maiden Nigeria International Air Show, held from 2nd to 4th December 2025 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The airline clinched the coveted “Airline of the Year” award, while Dr Onyema was named “Aviation Executive of the Year”, marking a defining moment for both the carrier and the nation’s aviation sector.
The awards, presented by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Yakubu Adam Kofamata, respectively, underscored Air Peace’s extraordinary rise from a fledgling domestic operator to a continental aviation leader, as well as Onyema’s pioneering role in restoring national pride and competitiveness within the industry.
Since its establishment in 2014, Air Peace has charted one of the most remarkable growth paths in African aviation. What began with a small fleet of Dornier 328s and Boeing 737s has expanded into a formidable operation boasting an array of aircraft, including the wide-body Boeing 777 and the modern Embraer 195-E2.
The airline’s sustained investment in fleet modernisation, safety, and route expansion has placed it in a league of its own.
Air Peace’s international breakthroughs formed a central highlight of the recognition. In 2024, the airline launched direct Lagos–London Gatwick flights, marking Nigeria’s return to the UK market.
In late 2025, it went a step further by inaugurating the first-ever direct Abuja–London Heathrow service by a Nigerian carrier – an achievement widely heralded as a major milestone for the nation’s aviation industry.
With a robust domestic and regional presence and a growing intercontinental footprint, the airline’s achievements at the air show were described by organisers as “a testament to resilience, strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to excellence”.
Dr Onyema’s individual recognition as “Aviation Executive of the Year” further illuminated Air Peace’s success story. His founding vision – to build a world-class Nigerian airline that creates jobs, fosters national unity, and competes globally – was praised as a transformative force in the sector.
Today, Air Peace stands as one of Nigeria’s largest private employers, linking underserved cities and providing vital regional connectivity.
Under Onyema’s leadership, the airline has not only challenged the dominance of foreign carriers but has helped reassert Nigeria’s aviation potential on the global stage.
The Abuja–London Heathrow launch in 2025, in particular, was hailed as a testament to his courage, ambition, and commitment to expanding opportunity for Nigerians.
Industry stakeholders present at the event described the double honours as “well deserved”, noting that the success of Air Peace and the recognition of its helmsman reflect a new era of innovation, competitiveness, and national confidence.
The inaugural Nigeria International Air Show closed with Air Peace firmly established as the star of the event – a symbol of what Nigerian aviation can achieve when ambition meets strategic execution, and a beacon of the country’s aspirations to strengthen its presence in global air transport.
