The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero has applauded Air Peace Airline’s Tuesday’s maiden commercial flight to Jeddah.
The airline’s spokesman, Mr Stanley Olisa, noted in Ikeja on Wednesday that the emir lauded Air Peace for expanding its Asian footprints with Tuesday’s flight.
Air Peace operated its maiden commercial flight from Kano to Jeddah on Tuesday on a B777s jet carrying 231 passengers.
The airline had in the past been operating chartered flights to Saudi Arabia on Hajj operations.
The emir noted that with the launch of the scheduled nonstop flights to Jeddah, Air Peace would further deepen bilateral ties between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, boost economies of both countries and advance mutual development.
Ado-Bayero also applauded the Chairman of Air Peace Airlines, Dr Allen Onyema for the impact he was creating in the country through the airline.
He appreciated the Saudi Arabian authorities, travel partners and the Nigerian government for making the launch possible.
Responding, Onyema described Air Peace’s entry into Jeddah as a milestone, stating that Jeddah was the airline’s sixth international destination in nine years of launch of commercial operations.
“This is huge, not just for Air Peace, but for Nigeria.
“We are undoubtedly exemplifying our ambition of connecting Nigeria to the world with world-class flight services.
“Air Peace is on a mission to ease the air travel burdens of Nigerians.
“We are happy to be serving as a means of solidifying socio-economic ties between Nigeria and other countries of the world,’’ Onyeama reiterated.
While adding that Nigeria and Saudi Arabia had always cooperated smoothly with religious tourism being a key driver of the relationship.
He said that in line with its route expansion drive, Air Peace would launch flight operations into London soon.
Onyeama expressed gratitude to the emir of Kano who felicitated with the airline during its recent ninth anniversary, describing the emir as a bridge-builder.
He also applauded Ado-Bayero for his contributions to nation-building, adding that the nation needed more of such traditional rulers.
