Posted by Sade Williams
Air Peace’s journey to long-haul operations to Dubai, Sharjah, London, Houston, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg began at about 08:00 a.m on Tuesday, with demonstration flight to Dakar, Senegal.
test.clinztouch.com gathered that some officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) were on board the non-revenue flight, as set by standards.
It was gathered that the non-revenue flights to demonstrate the capabilities of the Boeing 777 would be operated to Kano, Port Harcourt, Freetown, Johannesburg & Sharjah after Dakar.
Speaking to thetravelport.co.ng on the development, former commandant, Murtla Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Gr. Capt. John Ojikutu said the flight is essential in fulfillment of the safety guidelines in civil aviation, adding that though it is costly.
“The flight is essential, even-though is it called demonstration flight, but can be costly when you look at the operational cost for a B777 and that cannot be less than between $5,000 – $6,000 per hour for Dakar for instance which is about three hours to and fro that is apart from insurance. But if the aircraft is insured, then it covers the few people on board and if it is going to land, you begin to count landing fees except if it only hovers and returns to Lagos”, he said.
Air Peace sets the record in February last year with the arrival of its newly acquired Boeing B777-200 aircraft, becoming the first and only Nigerian airline to procure and register the brand of the airliner in the country.
The 274-capacity aircraft, is the first of two Boeing 777 airliners Air Peace acquired in preparation for its Dubai, Sharjah, London, Guangzhou-China, Houston, Mumbai and Johannesburg services.
