Air Peace Caribbean Comeback: Agent Opportunities Abound

Air Peace, Nigeria’s leading airline, is set to relaunch regular flights to Antigua and Barbuda by the end of 2025, creating exciting new opportunities for African travel agents. This strategic move will significantly enhance air connectivity between West Africa and the Caribbean, opening doors to lucrative travel markets and boosting tourism in both regions.

This relaunch marks a significant step in Air Peace’s transatlantic development strategy, building on its existing investment in LIAT 2020, a regional Caribbean airline. This partnership provides a strong foundation for seamless connections and expanded travel options for passengers flying from West Africa to various Caribbean destinations.

For Antigua and Barbuda, the return of Air Peace signifies a renewed focus on strengthening air links with Africa. Following the unsuccessful Antigua Airways venture, this initiative, coupled with recent bilateral agreements with countries like Rwanda and Ghana, demonstrates a commitment to fostering stronger ties and facilitating travel between the two continents.

Travel agents across Africa can capitalize on this development by offering their clients convenient and competitive travel packages to the Caribbean. The Lagos-Antigua route, estimated at a 9.4-hour direct flight, will be serviced by Air Peace’s modern fleet, including Boeing 777s, ensuring a comfortable and efficient journey for travelers.

The airline’s Lagos hub will serve as a central connection point for passengers from other West African cities. With estimated flight times of 1.5 hours from Accra and 3.9 hours from Dakar to Lagos, plus a minimum 2-hour connection window, travel agents can create attractive itineraries that cater to a wider range of travelers.

The five-hour time difference between Lagos (UTC+1) and Antigua (UTC-4) should be factored into travel arrangements to ensure smooth and hassle-free connections for passengers. Travel agents can leverage this information to provide accurate and up-to-date travel advice to their clients.

Air Peace’s Caribbean expansion is part of a broader trend of African airlines seeking to broaden their international reach. The airline currently serves 16 domestic and nine international destinations, including London, Jeddah, and Istanbul. The addition of Antigua and Barbuda to its network signifies a strategic move to diversify its offerings and tap into new markets.

The airline’s fleet of 28 aircraft, with eight more on order, including new Embraer 175 E-jets and leased Boeing 737-800s, demonstrates its commitment to modernizing its operations and expanding its capacity. This investment in fleet expansion will enable Air Peace to better serve its growing network and provide reliable service to its passengers.

Beyond Antigua and Barbuda, Air Peace is also in discussions with Barbados to establish direct flights, further expanding its Caribbean footprint. This proactive approach to route development underscores the airline’s ambition to become a key player in connecting Africa with the rest of the world.

This expansion into the Caribbean market presents a unique opportunity for African travel agents to enhance their product offerings and cater to the growing demand for international travel. By partnering with Air Peace, agents can provide their clients with seamless travel experiences and access to a wider range of destinations.