Organizers of the 4th Accra Weizo has announced that Air Peace Limited (APL) is the Official Airline Partner for the 2018 edition of the West Africa region fair which aims at stimulating seamless travel within the West African sub region.
The 4th Accra Weizo will hold from 22nd and 23rd June 2018 at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra – Ghana.
At the launch of Accra Weizo 4 years ago the Vision was to turn the 15 countries and its 380 million people into a Domestic Tourism Destination. Accra Weizo is one of the events geared towards getting West Africans to cooperate amongst themselves. Hence, for this year, Air Peace, the biggest airline operating from Nigeria has thrown its weight in support of this event.
Air Peace Limited (APL) is a Nigerian carrier offering passenger and charter services to major cities and hubs in the country, the West Coast of Africa and currently pursuing a huge expansion project to operate flights into international destinations, including Johannesburg, Mumbai, Sharjah, Dubai, London, Atlanta and Guangzhou-China.
The airline commenced commercial flight operations on 24 October, 2014 with a record fleet size of seven aircraft comprising three Dornier 328 jets and four Boeing 737-500SPs. The carrier is primarily focused on delivering safe and seamless air travel in line with global standards.
Air Peace operates from its main hub, the General Aviation Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Loyal customers of the airline are rewarded under its frequent flyer programme, which offers travellers the opportunity to earn points that can be used for future travel.
Air Peace is 100 percent privately owned by Mr. Allen Onyema, who is the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, and his family. A well-known lawyer in Nigeria, Onyema had been successful in real estate business and law practice since 1992 before venturing into the airline sector. He has a passion to create employment opportunities for Nigerians, Africans and experts across the globe and guarantee quality on-time flight services at very affordable fares.
The carrier, which got its International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate in 2017 and was admitted as a member of IATA shortly after, recently embarked on a massive expansion project to increase its fleet of B737-300/500, B777 and Embraer 145 Jets to 24.
Air Peace now operates the biggest fleet in Nigeria. The airline currently operates from its base in Lagos into 12 domestic and 4 regional destinations.
During the 4th Accra Weizo 2018, there would be official launch of a West African Travel and Tourism platform (WATTA), the award of West Africa Top 100 Hotels and the BALAFON West African Travel and Tourism awards.
West Africa is home to 15 countries of over 380 million people but Tourism and Travel is not the strong Suite of the Economic interaction in the region. The Region receives among the lowest Tourism figures per Capita in Africa. With a huge Population and over 40 Airports Aviation is dominated by Companies from outside the Region Accra Weizo is a Travel event now in its 4th edition aimed at creating a seamless travel environment in West Africa. It brings together Travel professional in West Africa
The ECOWAS region despite a protocol of free movement has not grown Intra regional Tourism and Travel.
At Weizo this year the Honorable minister of Aviation for Ghana Hon.Cecilia Abena Dapaah will be Opening the 4th Accra Weizo event on the 22nd of June with a Paper titled ‘Harnessing the Opportunities in Aviation value chain in West Africa’
The first day will be the seminar on Aviation and the Second day will be dedicated to ‘Travel, Tourism and the Internet’ session to grow Travel Business and destination. It will be taking place at ada Ekesi Hall at L a Palm Royal Beach Hotel
The topics to be discussed on the first session of the event which is dedicated solely to Aviation in West Africa include
“Interlining in West Africa, a possibility or a Mirage?” “ Integrating West African Airport System” “Standardizing Aviation Laws in West Africa for Regional Growth” “Why West African Airlines fail easily and the future”.
Confirmed panellists for that session are Capt. Ado Sanusi –Managing Director of Nigeria’s oldest Airline Aero owners of the major MRO in the region, Chike Ogeah the Vice Chairman SAHCOL a leading Nigerian Owned Aviation handling and Logistics company, Alex Nwuba, CEO of Ghana based Smile Aviation and former CEO of Nigerian based Associated Airlines, Richard Kyereh from Africa World Airlines the leading Airline in Ghana. Other Airlines Chief Executives are expected to join the panel.
There will also be a Hospitality panel made up of Top Hotel Managers in West Africa to discuss, “Adapting of International Hotel Standards to the African Environment”.
Already confirmed Panellists which is a mixture of African and non African Hotel Managers include Marigold Vivian Mingle of Ridge Royal Resort at Cape Coast. She was a former General manager of La Palm Royal beach Hotel in Accra.
Pastor Emmanuel Geadda-Asando, Vice President -Ghana Progressive Hotels Association; Sajid Khan, General Manager, Tang Palace Hotel Ghana. He is one of the most experienced Hotel managers in West Africa having managed Fiesta Royal Accra, Golden Tulip Lagos, Golden Tulip Hotel Accra Ghana among others. Malah Saleh is the CEO of Djembe Hotels and Balafon Hotels in the Gambia. Currently he is one of the biggest Hotel proprietors in West Africa. Topics lined up for day 2 of the event on the 23rd include ‘How effective are travel bloggers, writers and influencers in promoting travel destinations in West Africa’ to be discussed by the following confirmed panellists will include Gabe Onah, Chairman Carnival Calabar Commission,
Steve Ayorinde ,Lagos state commissioner of Tourism, Mr Lehlohonolo Pitso, Regional Manager, West Africa for South African Tourism SAT, Akwasi Agyeman, ag.CEO Ghana Tourism Authority, Ebele Enemchukwu, Fmr Mrs Tourism United Nations, Ghana’s Tourism promoter media Mogul and CEO of Kaya Tours Abeku Santana , Nigerian CNN journalist of the year Award winner and leading Travel Writer Obinna Emelike of Business Day,One of Ghana’s top Blogger Ameyaw Debrah of Ameyaw Tv, The Instagram sensation, Nigerian star tour Operator Chiamaka Obuekwe, MD Social Prefect Tours, Ghanaian based Communicator Chris Koney
