Air Peace engages B777 for evacuation of 200 Nigerians from Canada
Samson Echenim is business a.m. correspondent providing coverage for maritime, aviation, travels and hospitality. A former business correspondent at the Punch and Leadership newspapers, he has a vast experience in business reporting. Samson can be reached on samhapp2000@yahoo.com and +2348037363024
Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace will be deploying its B777 aircraft for evacuation of 200 Nigerians stranded in Canada following the outbreak of the coronavirus.
The Nigeria High Commission in Canada said it was ready to evacuate Nigerians stranded in that country due to coronavirus travel restrictions.
It put the number of requests for evacuation it had received at no fewer than 200, saying that a Boeing 777 aircraft operated by Air Peace had been specially arranged to fly the intending returnees home on May 14.
The high commission noted that it could be the only special evacuation flight for Nigerian nationals stranded in Canada due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It said the plane would pick the prospective passengers from two locations in Canada, namely Toronto and Alberta.
According to the flight schedule, the aircraft is expected to pick the first set from the Pearson International Airport, Toronto.
From there it will fly to the Calgary International Airport, Alberta, a distance of 2,915 k.m., to load the second set of passengers.
The aircraft will depart Alberta for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where the evacuees would be moved into isolation for 14 days.
In September last year, Air Peace evacuated for free over 600 Nigerians stranded in South Africa during xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans living in South Africa.
After announcing it was engaging Emirates Airline to evacuate citizens from the United Arab Emirates, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had criticized the decision of the Nigerian government, urging it to engage capable local airlines.
Air Peace is in to making no less than $226,000 (N90 million) from the airlift as the one-way flight will cost each prospective evacuee between $1,130 dollars (N452,000) and $2,000 dollars (N800,000) depending on the class.
Special evacuation exercise to help stranded Nigerians home from overseas countries began Wednesday last week with the return of 265 Nigerians from the United Arab Emirates.
On Friday, 253 were brought back from the United Kingdom, followed by 160 from the United States on Sunday.
This brings to 678 the total number of Nigerians evacuated by the Federal Government so far