Air Peace don make history as dem land first direct flight from Nigeria for Barbados. Di plane wey carry over 284 passengers take off from Lagos on May 24, 2026, and touch down for Barbados without stopping for Europe or America. Dis na big achievement because for long time, people wey dey travel between Africa and Caribbean dey suffer plenty layovers and visa wahala.
Di airline use dia Boeing 777 aircraft for di historic trip. Before now, passengers wey wan go from Nigeria to Caribbean go first go London or New York before dem go reach dia destination. But now, Air Peace don break dat jinx. Industry observers call am a bold move wey go improve connectivity between West Africa and di Caribbean.
Air Peace also take delivery of new Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft with registration number 5N-CGD. Di plane land for Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on di same day di Barbados flight take off. Dis show say di airline dey expand dia fleet as dem dey grow international operations.
According to reports, about 25 passengers wey suppose go Antigua and Barbuda still dey wait because di flight make small diversion as authorities check for Ebola outbreaks for parts of Africa. Dem go later use LIAT to transport those passengers to Antigua.
Barbados Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill, describe di launch as landmark occasion for Barbados and di Caribbean. He talk say di direct flight na di most tangible expression yet of di relationship between di two regions. He assure Air Peace say government go support di route to make am succeed.
Acting Chief Operating Officer of Afreximbank, Mr Okechukwu Ihejirika, also talk say di bank dey support initiatives wey go advance trade and connectivity between Africa and di Caribbean. He emphasize di importance of sustainable air transport links for regional integration.
Air Peace Chief Commercial Officer, Mr Nowel Ngala, say di launch na di end of long road to make dis airlift connection possible. He thank di Government of Barbados, Afreximbank, and Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. He also acknowledge di leadership of Air Peace Chairman and CEO, Dr Allen Onyema, for driving di vision of expanding African connectivity.
Di new Lagos–Barbados service go run twice monthly, creating air bridge between Africa and di Caribbean. Dis go open opportunities for tourism, trade, investment, and cultural exchange. Di route go also help diaspora communities wey dey both regions to connect better.
Stakeholders from both sides express optimism say di service go expand beyond di inaugural year and become model for cooperation between Caribbean states and African carriers. Di forum end with renewed commitments to deepen collaboration for tourism, trade, culture, and aviation.
