Air Peace has strongly refuted allegations by SaharaReporters that it deceived Nigerians over the proposed Lagos–São Paulo direct flight, describing the report as malicious, misleading, and part of a coordinated smear campaign against both the airline and the Federal Government.

In a detailed response, the airline dismissed claims that it collaborated with the Tinubu administration to mislead the public, insisting that no fraud, deception, or false promise was ever made concerning the South American route.

According to Air Peace, the report relied on unnamed and unverifiable sources who alleged that the entire Lagos–São Paulo arrangement was “deceptive from the outset.” The airline countered that nothing could be further from the truth, emphasizing that aviation operations. particularly long-haul international routes require multiple regulatory, technical, and commercial approvals before flights can commence.

Air Peace clarified that what was previously announced between Nigeria and Brazil was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), not a confirmed flight launch. An MoU, the airline explained, is a diplomatic framework that signals intent to deepen bilateral aviation cooperation; it does not amount to ticket sales, confirmed flight schedules, or an operational guarantee.

“In aviation practice, several mandatory processes must be completed after an MoU before any flight can take off,” Air Peace stated, adding that presenting the agreement as a commercial launch misrepresents standard global aviation procedures. The airline also rejected claims that Nigerians were “stranded” or left in limbo by the unlaunched route. It maintained that no tickets were sold, no booking platforms were opened, and no official flight date was ever announced.

“It is therefore illogical to claim that passengers were stranded by a flight that was never placed on sale,” the airline noted. “What exists here is self-imposed expectation, not deception.”

Air Peace further emphasized that international long-haul operations cannot be rushed or influenced by political goodwill or media attention. It outlined several regulatory and operational requirements that must be satisfied before launching the Lagos–São Paulo service. These include implementation of Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) frameworks, approvals from Brazil’s civil aviation authority (ANAC), slot allocations at São Paulo airports, safety and insurance certifications, Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards (ETOPS) clearance, aircraft deployment planning, and detailed route economic assessments.

On fleet capacity, Air Peace confirmed that it possesses the aircraft required to operate the route. The airline currently operates four Boeing 777-200/300 wide-body aircraft. Two are deployed on its London Heathrow and London Gatwick services, while the remaining two are on standby for other long-haul destinations—including São Paulo—once all regulatory and commercial approvals are secured.

“Until these requirements are fully met, no responsible airline would announce ticket sales or commence operations,” the airline stated.

Air Peace also rejected insinuations that it made binding commercial commitments or promised a fixed launch date. It explained that statements of intent or optimism should not be misconstrued as guarantees, noting that airlines often study and prepare new international routes over extended periods. By way of example, the airline disclosed that its London operations took approximately seven years from initial conception to execution, underscoring the complexity and long-term planning required for long-haul route development.

Addressing public concerns over the high cost of international connecting flights, Air Peace argued that it cannot be held responsible for global airfare structures or foreign airline pricing policies. It stressed that the existence of an MoU does not automatically translate into reduced ticket prices or immediate fare relief for travelers. In stronger terms, the airline described the SaharaReporters publication as an act of “deliberate blackmail,” allegedly sponsored by vested interests seeking to undermine both Air Peace and the Nigerian government.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Air Peace remains the only airline in Nigeria and the West African sub-region with the capacity to undertake transoceanic flight operations using its own wide-body fleet,” the statement said, suggesting that this competitive advantage may be fueling sustained attacks on the airline’s reputation. The airline further revealed that preparations for the Lagos–São Paulo route began as early as last year. It has been engaging relevant Nigerian authorities, collaborating with the Brazilian government, and working with key stakeholders in Brazil to ensure a successful rollout of the service.

However, it reiterated that all regulatory, technical, and commercial processes must be fully concluded before any official announcement or ticket sales can occur.

“Aviation is not a cut-and-paste business,” the airline warned. “The safety of passengers, crew, and equipment remains a sine qua non.”

Air Peace condemned what it described as attempts by individuals or groups to undermine a Nigerian business through misinformation and media manipulation in pursuit of competitive advantage. It also criticized SaharaReporters for what it called a recurring pattern of distortion—turning diplomatic engagements into alleged fraud, branding patience and due process as “stranding,” replacing verifiable facts with anonymous emotion, and ignoring aviation realities to manufacture public outrage.

“This approach is not journalism; it is agitational storytelling,” the airline asserted.

In summarizing its position, Air Peace made four points unequivocally clear: no flight tickets were sold, no Nigerian was abandoned, no scam occurred, and an MoU should not be confused with a boarding pass. The airline reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, professionalism, and regulatory compliance, assuring that the Lagos–São Paulo route will be formally announced only when all conditions are fully satisfied—just as it has done with every other destination in its network.

Until then, Air Peace urged Nigerians to rely on verified facts rather than fear-driven narratives or sensational headlines, insisting that responsible aviation development must be guided by safety, due process, and operational readiness—not media pressure.

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Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, has unveiled ambitious plans to launch direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil, a historic air link expected to strengthen economic, trade, and cultural ties between Africa and South America. Following the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Brazil in 2025, the airline received approval to operate scheduled direct services from Lagos to São Paulo, with Rio de Janeiro also under consideration.

The announcement was widely celebrated as a milestone for Nigeria’s aviation industry and a sign of deepening diplomatic and commercial cooperation between the two countries. Air Peace successfully operated an inaugural demonstration flight, further reinforcing optimism around the route’s potential.

However, despite this progress, uncertainty continues to surround the reliability and long-term sustainability of the proposed Brazil service. A combination of operational disruptions, regulatory disputes, and structural challenges within Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem is raising concerns about the airline’s capacity to maintain the route.

Air Peace CEO and Chairman, Allen Onyema, has repeatedly warned that Nigerian airlines are operating under what he describes as a crushing and unsustainable tax regime. He argues that multiple levies imposed on ticket sales, aircraft imports, spare parts, and financing costs are eroding already thin margins in an industry burdened by high fuel prices, maintenance expenses, foreign exchange volatility, and restricted access to funds.

Speaking on Arise News, Onyema cited a domestic airfare of approximately ₦350,000, claiming that airlines retain as little as ₦81,000 after statutory deductions and operating costs. He noted that this reality contradicts public perceptions of excessive airline profitability and warned that cumulative charges inevitably translate into higher fares and reduced passenger demand.

One of the central points of contention is the 5% ticket sales charge collected by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Although the charge is embedded in ticket prices, Air Peace argues that airlines often absorb its impact to avoid further suppressing demand. Onyema has also criticised the application of Value Added Tax (VAT) to airfares, aircraft imports, and spare parts under recent fiscal reforms.

“There’s VAT now on the importation of aircraft. If you buy an aircraft for $80 million, you must pay 7.5% of that amount,” he said. “If you import spare parts, you pay the same VAT. On top of this, loans attract interest rates of 30 to 35 percent. We are choking.” He warned that these costs threaten the survival of domestic carriers and undermine the viability of international expansion plans, including long-haul routes such as Nigeria–Brazil.

The NCAA has firmly rejected claims that statutory charges are responsible for rising airfares. The regulator insists that all passenger-related charges are lawful, transparent, and clearly disclosed, and emphasizes that it does not regulate airfare pricing. Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, dismissed media narratives linking high fares directly to taxation.

“Lies have been told over this matter, over and over,” he stated in a post on X. “While the NCAA does not regulate airfares, I invited domestic airlines to clarify these tax claims, and they admitted they do not pay the volumes of taxes being mentioned publicly.” This divergence of views highlights a broader policy debate over whether aviation in Nigeria should be treated primarily as a revenue-generating sector or as a strategic industry requiring fiscal protection to remain viable.

The taxation dispute comes amid a period of significant operational and reputational challenges for Air Peace. The airline recently denied allegations that it abandoned passengers in Barbados en route to Jamaica, describing the claims as misleading and lacking proper operational context. It has also faced regulatory scrutiny over alleged fare exploitation on certain southeastern domestic routes , claims Onyema has publicly refuted.

More critically, Air Peace experienced major disruptions in late November when four Airbus A320 aircraft operating under ACMI (wet lease) agreements were withdrawn from service. The aircraft, leased through Latvian operator SmartLynx, were reportedly reclaimed by owners including AerCap, Castlelake, and Global Principal Finance after SmartLynx defaulted on its own lease obligations. Air Peace described the withdrawals as abrupt and unjustified, estimating financial losses exceeding $15 million. The episode underscores the vulnerability of African airlines that rely heavily on short-term wet leases in markets with limited access to capital and spare aircraft.

Despite mounting challenges, Air Peace says it is determined to begin 2026 with confidence.” The airline has announced a restructuring of its regional operations, shifting all night-time regional flights to daytime schedules to improve punctuality, passenger experience, and connectivity across West Africa, as well as onward long-haul connections from Lagos.

The carrier also plans to expand its regional network by the end of the first quarter of 2026, with proposed new routes to Douala, Libreville, Kinshasa, Conakry, Bamako, and Johannesburg. These ambitions follow the airline’s landmark inaugural flight to London Heathrow in October.

Air Peace’s ambitions and difficulties reflect the broader challenges confronting Nigeria’s aviation industry and much of Africa’s. As governments pursue revenue reforms and regulators intensify oversight, policymakers face a delicate balancing act between fiscal objectives and the commercial realities of airline operations.

With passenger demand rising and scrutiny increasing, the sustainability of domestic carriers remains a critical issue , one that will significantly influence the future of air transport between Nigeria, Brazil, and the wider global aviation network.

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The launch of Nigerian airline Air Peace in Brazil has officially been postponed to 2026. The airline confirmed to Ancestral News that planning for its South American operations will now begin in the first quarter of next year, indicating that there is still substantial groundwork to be done before the first flights can take off.

Originally, the company’s plan was to start flights between São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport and Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, in late 2025 , between October and December , with three weekly frequencies using Boeing 777 aircraft. However, this plan has not yet materialized, as Air Peace continues to face operational and logistical challenges typical of launching a long-haul intercontinental route.

In its official response, Air Peace stated:” While we are working toward the launch, there is still no concrete date set for the start of operations or ticket sales. Once these details are confirmed, we will officially communicate them to the public through our channels.”

Data from Planespotters indicate that Air Peace currently operates four Boeing 777s, but two are out of service. The remaining two are mainly deployed on the Lagos–London route, which the airline inaugurated earlier this year as part of its international expansion strategy. According to Flightradar24, the most recent long-haul operation by one of these aircraft occurred on October 17, and no further flights have been recorded since then.

This limited availability of long-range aircraft has become a major obstacle. A June 2025 report from ThisDay Live revealed that Air Peace had placed three aircraft on standby to minimize delays and cancellations, but the company’s long-haul operations still require significant investment in maintenance, crew training, and international certification. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, had previously confirmed that flights to Brazil would begin “as soon as the company has an aircraft ready,” suggesting that the bottleneck is less about diplomatic readiness and more about the operational capacity of the airline itself.

The Air Peace–Brazil project stems from a bilateral air services agreement (BASA) signed in May 2025 between Nigeria and Brazil. The deal, signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Filho, allows direct passenger and cargo flights between the two nations. It was witnessed by Presidents Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, reflecting growing ties between Africa’s largest economy and South America’s biggest nation. At the time, both governments suggested that flights could begin “within months,” with up to four or five weekly frequencies, depending on market demand and the airline’s readiness. A follow-up meeting between Presidents Tinubu and Lula in August 2025 further strengthened the agreement, smoothing out remaining regulatory and logistical issues related to aviation, trade, and energy cooperation.

For both countries, the planned São Paulo–Lagos route carries enormous symbolic and economic significance. It represents not only a commercial link but also a cultural and historical bridge between two nations deeply connected through centuries of Afro-Brazilian heritage.

Several key factors explain why Air Peace has postponed the launch. The airline’s long-haul fleet remains limited. With two Boeing 777s grounded and others heavily committed to the London route, there is not yet a dedicated aircraft available for South American service. Launching a transatlantic route requires multiple layers of certification — including traffic rights, safety audits, slot coordination at São Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport, and crew authorizations under international standards.

Experts have raised concerns about whether consistent passenger demand exists to sustain multiple weekly flights between Lagos and São Paulo , a route previously attempted by other airlines but discontinued due to low yields. Air Peace also continues to consolidate its presence on routes to London, Dubai, Jeddah, and Mumbai, focusing resources on these markets before expanding further afield.

In its public communications, Air Peace reiterated its commitment to the Brazil project but emphasized that it will not launch prematurely”We are working diligently to ensure that when we begin, operations will be sustainable and efficient. This route is of strategic importance to Nigeria’s connectivity with South America.”

Company founder and CEO Allen Onyema has repeatedly described the Brazil route as a “historic connection” that will unite Africa and Latin America, highlighting Air Peace’s ambition to make Nigeria the aviation hub of West Africa.

While the initial timeline suggested a start by the end of 2025, the airline’s current schedule pushes the launch into early-to-mid 2026. According to Nigerian aviation sources, Air Peace is also exploring options such as leasing additional wide-body aircraft or forming code-share partnerships with Brazilian carriers to facilitate feeder traffic across South America once the Lagos–São Paulo service begins.

When operational, the flight will significantly reduce travel time between West Africa and South America , from around 17 hours (with connections) to just 7–8 hours nonstop. It is expected to boost tourism, trade, and cultural exchange, as well as provide a new corridor for business travelers and members of the Nigerian diaspora in Brazil. Experts suggest that the success of this route could pave the way for further expansion to other Latin American destinations such as Buenos Aires and Santiago, reinforcing Air Peace’s ambition to become the first West African airline with a consistent intercontinental network.

Although delayed, Air Peace’s planned route between Lagos and São Paulo remains one of the most anticipated milestones in African aviation. The 2026 launch now appears more realistic given the operational constraints, but the bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Brazil ensures that the framework is firmly in place. If successfully implemented, the service will not only connect two economic powerhouses but also reignite centuries-old Afro-Brazilian cultural ties — turning Air Peace’s Lagos–São Paulo route into a symbol of heritage, resilience, and modern African connectivity.

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Air Peace has taken delivery of its fourth Boeing 777 aircraft, strengthening its international expansion drive and reinforcing its position as Nigeria’s largest airline. The newly acquired wide-body jet is expected to play a major role in the launch of new routes across Europe, South America, and the Caribbean.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the airline disclosed that the Boeing 777-200ER, with registration number 5N-CEG, landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 3:32 p.m. from Teruel, Spain. The arrival was marked with a ceremonial water-cannon salute and a festive welcome, led by the airline’s Chairman, Allen Onyema; Executive Director, Obinna Onyema; Chief Operating Officer, Oluwatoyin Olajide; along with other members of Air Peace’s management team.

Air Peace spokesperson Efe Osifo-Whiskey noted that the addition of the aircraft aligns with the company’s long-term vision of strengthening global connectivity. The aircraft is configured with 312 seats—26 in Business Class and 286 in Economy Class—and comes equipped with modern inflight features. Business Class offers private ambient seating for premium comfort, while Economy Class provides generous legroom and enhanced service.
Speaking at the reception, Allen Onyema described the delivery as a “major milestone” in the airline’s journey, calling it a “decisive step in Air Peace’s expansion strategy.”

He revealed that within the next two months, the aircraft will be deployed for inaugural long-haul flights from Abuja to London Heathrow and Gatwick airports. In addition, the Lagos–São Paulo, Brazil route is scheduled to begin in November, with flights lasting about seven hours and operating four to five times weekly to South America. Onyema further explained that the plan includes opening more routes into key European destinations, South America—particularly direct flights to São Paulo—and the Caribbean. These routes will expand on Air Peace’s pioneering services into Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis.

Reaffirming the airline’s mission, Onyema emphasized Air Peace’s dedication to making international travel more affordable and accessible for Nigerians. He stated that the airline is committed to reducing the historically high fares charged by foreign carriers. However, he also stressed the importance of stronger aviation infrastructure in Nigeria, pointing out that an efficient hub system is urgently needed to improve both regional and international connectivity.

Onyema expressed gratitude for the Nigerian government’s support, thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for policies that foster the growth of indigenous airlines. He also praised the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Senator Festus Keyamo, for implementing inclusive strategies that enable Nigerian airlines to compete on the global stage.

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