A new domestic airline, Air Peace, says it is set to swell the number of airlines operating on domestic routes in the country before the end of the month.

The chairman of the airline, Mr Allen Onyema, said on Thursday in Lagos that the airline had five aircraft on ground and was expecting the sixth one before its inaugural flight.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that presently, domestic airlines operating in the country include Arik Air, Aerocontractors, Medview, Dana Airlines, and FirstNation. Others are Discovery Air, Azman Air and Overland |Airways.

Onyema told aviation correspondents that Air Peace would start a three-day retreat for its 200 personnel on Friday to prepare them for the inaugural flight.

According to him, the retreat will also enable its personnel to understand more about the vision of the airline, which aims at changing the face of air travel in the country.

Onyema said that the event, which would hold in Lagos, would also provide an opportunity for the airline’s personnel to learn how to ensure safety of intending passengers.

"It is to herald the start of our operations very soon. Our strategy is on time departure. We can assure all that everything is on ground for our inaugural flight.

We will educate our staff on how to make the difference as an airline by pursuing customer service. We will educate them on the need not to cut corners and have respect for our passengers.

We shall also pursue how to use technology to drive our brand." he said.

Onyema said that the airline was planning to partner with commercial banks, hotels, travel agencies, supermarkets and others with retail outlets to market the airline.

(NAN).