…As Onyema Bags ‘Aviation Executive Of The Year’
West and Central Africa’s largest airline, Air Peace Limited has been honored with the “Airline of the Year” Award at the maiden edition of the Nigeria International Air Show, held from December 2–4, 2025 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport( NAIA), Abuja.
This is just as the the Chairman of the airline, Dr. Allen Onyema was honoured with
‘Aviation Executive of the Year’
The airline’s award was presented by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo in recognition of Air Peace’s meteoric rise and transformative impact on Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Established in 2014, Air Peace has grown from a modest fleet of Dornier 328s and Boeing 737s to one of the most formidable carriers in Africa.
Today, the airline boasts a mixed fleet that includes wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft, modern Embraer 195-E2 jets, and other narrow-body and regional aircraft, a clear demonstration of its strategic investments in fleet modernization and capacity expansion.
On the route front, Air Peace has significantly expanded its reach, both domestically and internationally. In 2024, the airline launched its Lagos–London (Gatwick) service, marking its entry into the European market.
In late 2025, it further extended its international footprint by inaugurating a direct Abuja–London (Heathrow) flight , the first ever by a Nigerian airline, thereby signaling the airline’s global ambitions and capacity to compete on the world stage.
These achievements; a modern, diverse fleet, a broad domestic/regional network, and strategic long-haul expansion, collectively underscore why Air Peace stood out at the Nigeria International Air Show.
The “Airline of the Year” award recognises not just its current success, but its role in reshaping Nigeria’s aviation landscape, expanding connectivity, and restoring national pride in local carrier capability.
As Air Peace continues to grow, the award cements its status not just as Nigeria’s leading airline, but as a continental aviation powerhouse determined to connect Africa more robustly to the world.
Aviation Executive of the Year
Meanwhile, the Chairman and CEO of Air Peace Limited, Dr. Allen Onyema, was also awarded “Aviation Executive of the Year”.
The award which was
presented by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Yakubu Kofamata, celebrates Onyema’s transformational role in overhauling West African aviation through Air Peace.
Under his leadership, Air Peace evolved rapidly from a small startup to the largest privately-owned carrier in West and Central Africa. Onyema’s founding vision was to use the airline not only as a business venture, but as an engine for economic empowerment, creating thousands of jobs across Nigeria and connecting previously underserved cities through robust domestic and regional networks.
Importantly, Onyema has also driven bold international ambitions.
Under his guidance, Air Peace became the first Nigerian airline in decades to re-establish direct connectivity to London, first via Lagos–London Gatwick, and in 2025 via Abuja–London Heathrow.
That landmark Abuja–London route demonstrates his unwavering commitment to restoring Nigerian aviation’s global presence and competitiveness.
Beyond business metrics, Onyema’s leadership has helped reshape Nigeria’s aviation identity, showing that a Nigerian airline can not only survive but thrive, competing head-to-head with international carriers, even on long-haul routes.
His award as “Aviation Executive of the Year” honors this sustained commitment to excellence, safety, growth, and national pride.
With this recognition, Onyema’s legacy is reinforced as a pioneer who refused to settle for incremental growth, instead charting a bold course that seeks to connect Africa to the world, while uplifting Nigerians through jobs, connectivity, and global visibility.
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