Barbados pledges to boost demand for Air Peace’s Lagos route

By Matilda Ikediobi

After Air Peace launched its first commercial direct flight from Lagos to Barbados, the Government of Barbados announced plans to stimulate demand and create favourable conditions for the route to thrive.

On 24 May 2026, the airline began a direct service between the two countries using a Boeing 777 that carried more than 284 passengers.

During a forum and media launch held at the Indigo Hotel in Barbados, the government, with support from the African Export‑Import Bank (Afreximbank), reiterated its commitment to the new route.

Attendees included Ian Gooding‑Edghill, Minister of Tourism and International Transport; Shane Archer, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Youth and Culture; Ambassador David Commissiong, Ambassador to CARICOM; Juliet Sutherland‑Bynoe, High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia; Xiomara Pérez, Ambassador‑Designate of the Embassy of Panama; Martha Ortega Peraza, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Venezuela; Okechukwu Ihejirika, Acting Chief Operating Officer of Afreximbank; consultant Shelly Williams; and the Chairman of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.

Minister Gooding‑Edghill described the launch as “a landmark occasion for Barbados, for the Caribbean and for deepening relations between the region and the African continent.” He said the new route is “the most tangible expression yet” of the strategic relationship the two regions have sought to strengthen. “When Air Peace flies into Barbados, it does so carrying the weight of a relationship that both regions have been working toward,” he added. Gooding‑Edghill pledged active government support to ensure the service’s sustainability and long‑term success.

“We have no intention of being passive beneficiaries of your investment,” he said. “We will work through our trade and investment bodies, tourism agencies, private sector and diplomatic channels to stimulate demand and ensure favourable conditions exist for this route to succeed.” He expressed optimism that the service would expand beyond its inaugural year and serve as a model for mutually beneficial cooperation between Caribbean states and African carriers.

Mr. Ihejirika, Acting Chief Operating Officer of Afreximbank, reiterated the institution’s commitment to initiatives that advance trade, investment and connectivity between Africa and the Caribbean, including Air Peace’s operations between Lagos and Barbados. He highlighted the strategic importance of sustainable air transport links for deeper regional integration and economic cooperation.

Air Peace’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Nowel Ngala, said the successful launch was the culmination of years of collaborative effort to bridge Africa and the Caribbean through direct air travel. “Today marks the end of the long road to making this airlift connection possible, and the beginning of a new journey that has now been created,” Ngala said. “It symbolizes stronger ties between Africa and the Caribbean and opens new opportunities for tourism, trade and the traveling public.” He thanked the Government of Barbados, Afreximbank, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., diplomatic representatives and all stakeholders for their support.

In a related development, Air Peace received another Boeing 737‑800 Next Generation aircraft. The new plane, registered 5N‑CGD, landed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Sunday, 24 May 2026, marking another milestone in the airline’s fleet growth and modernization programme.

Configured with 189 Economy Class seats, the Boeing 737‑800 NG will enhance passenger comfort, operational efficiency and scheduling flexibility across domestic and regional routes. The aircraft features a spacious cabin layout, generous overhead storage, advanced avionics, modern safety systems and fuel‑efficient engines, making it one of the world’s most dependable and successful narrow‑body aircraft.

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