By Daniel Igali
When I was asked at rather short notice to represent my boss, the Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, at an event in London, I needed to travel almost immediately. Air Peace could accommodate the impromptu trip, so on September 1, I boarded their Lagos to London flight with my colleague, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.
I must confess, I had reservations. I had read enough unflattering reviews on social media about the airline’s London service to wonder what I was getting myself into.
Well, I was pleasantly surprised.
Business Class was comfortable, with fully reclining seats that allowed us to get some proper sleep on the red-eye flight. The meals were good and portions very generous, although my inability to tolerate late dinners meant I could hardly do mine justice.
The in-seat entertainment system could certainly be improved, but tablets loaded with movies and programmes were provided to Business Class passengers. The pilots were professional, while the cabin crew were warm, respectful and courteous.
Then came perhaps the biggest surprise. On arrival at Gatwick, Air Peace provided a complimentary chauffeur service to our hotel in Ealing. Our driver, Ammar, was excellent. In London, that is no small courtesy!
We are often quick to amplify the shortcomings of our own businesses. Fairness demands that we also acknowledge them when they get things right.
Supporting Nigerian enterprise should never mean lowering our standards. It should mean demanding world-class standards from our own and giving credit when they deliver.
On this Lagos to London journey, Air Peace did Nigeria proud.
I boarded with reservations. I arrived pleasantly surprised.
The Honourable Daniel Igali, popularly called The Champ and the only Nigerian to have won an Olympic Gold Medal in Wrestling, is the Commissioner for Sports, Bayelsa State
MY OWN AIR PEACE EXPERIENCE…
By Daniel Alabrah
The Honourable Daniel Igali, the man we popularly call The Champ (of course, the only Nigerian to have won an Olympic Gold Medal in Wrestling even though it was for Canada), has captured pointedly what has become our Air Peace Experience.
My addendum though was that it was not only the first time I flew the airline’s international flight to London but that the Pepper Soup in the skies was the clincher for me. It was pleasant savouring the hot bowl of a Nigerian delicacy on a Nigerian airline. Frequent international travellers would appreciate what this means when other airlines serve meals that are termed continental but barely satisfy one’s palates.
Indeed, we can do with some Nigerian option when it comes to culinary satisfaction of Air Peace passengers. And this is where the airline deserves our commendable, appreciation and support.
Kudos my friend Barr. (Chief) Allen Onyema! Kudos Air Peace!
May you always enjoy friendly skies!Mr. Alabrah, a seasoned Media and Communication Professional, is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State
