BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Air Peace shone brilliantly at the 2026 Nigerian Aviation (NIGAV) Awards in Lagos, sweeping seven major honours in a single night and reaffirming its position as West and Central Africa’s leading airline.
The ceremony, held at the NIGAV Conference Centre in Ikeja, brought together top industry stakeholders, regulators and government representatives, including officials from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in a celebration of excellence across the aviation value chain.
In a standout moment of the night, Air Peace dominated multiple categories that cut across leadership, operations, innovation, and customer experience.
The airline clinched Airline Executive Chief of the Year for its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Allen Onyema, alongside Nigerian Commercial Airline of the Year and Best West Africa Sub-Regional Airline of the Year.
It further strengthened its showing with wins for Best Air Travel Mobile App of the Year, Best In-flight Magazine (Alice Magazine), Best Airport Lounge of the Year, and Pilot of the Year (Male Category), awarded to Captain Callistus Ifeanyi.
Three of the awards, Dr. Onyema’s leadership honour, Alice Magazine, and the West Africa Sub-Regional Airline title, were successfully retained, highlighting a rare consistency in performance in an industry often marked by volatility and operational pressure.
Now in its 15th edition, the NIGAV Awards are widely regarded as one of the most credible platforms for recognising excellence in Nigerian aviation, with categories that reward innovation, safety, service delivery, and operational standards.
Speaking after the ceremony, Air Peace spokesperson Mr. Efe Osifo-Whiskey described the sweeping victory as a reflection of sustained effort across the organisation rather than isolated achievement.
“This recognition speaks to the commitment of our entire workforce and the clear vision of our leadership. It is a motivation to continue improving service delivery and expanding Nigeria’s footprint in global aviation,” he said.
He added that the airline’s continued investment in fleet expansion, digital transformation, and passenger-focused innovations has been central to its recent success.
These include enhancements to its mobile booking platform, loyalty programmes, and premium passenger services designed to improve convenience and efficiency.
Industry observers note that Air Peace’s performance at NIGAV 2026 underscores its growing influence not just within Nigeria, but across regional aviation markets, where competition for passengers and service excellence continues to intensify.
The airline has in recent years expanded its domestic and international network, strengthened operational capacity, and deepened customer engagement initiatives as part of a broader strategy to position itself as a globally competitive African carrier.
As the night closed in Lagos, Air Peace’s seven-award haul stood out as the defining story of NIGAV 2026, marking a moment of consolidation for the airline and a signal of its rising ambition on the global aviation stage.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
