History was made on the night of May 9, 2025, as the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State, witnessed its first-ever international flight since inception.

The landmark event was the departure of the inaugural 2025 Hajj flight, operated by Nigeria’s leading carrier, Air Peace.

Making the feat even more remarkable was the deployment of the wide-body Boeing 777-300 aircraft, the first time such a large aircraft landed on the Owerri airport runway.

This demonstrated the airport’s enhanced capacity and readiness to handle international operations of global standards.

A total of 315 pilgrims were airlifted on the non-stop inaugural flight from Owerri to Medina, Saudi Arabia, marking a new chapter for the South-East region in religious tourism and international connectivity.

This historic development not only represents a significant milestone for the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport but also underscores Nigeria’s growing aviation capabilities in expanding international operations across all geopolitical zones.

Kashim Shettima, the Vice President of Nigeria,   personally flagged off the flight, commending Hope Uzodinma, Imo State Governor,  for promoting religious tolerance and inclusiveness in the state. In his address, the Vice President encouraged the pilgrims to uphold Nigerian values and serve as true ambassadors of the nation while in the Holy Land.

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Governor Uzodinma, in his remarks, reiterated his administration’s commitment to enhancing the state’s aviation infrastructure.

He emphasised that the airport would also support the airlift of Christian pilgrims in future exercises, further positioning Owerri as a hub for religious and international travel.

Also present at the historic event was Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto,  alongside other dignitaries and religious leaders from across the country, lending credence to the unity and national significance of the occasion.

Air Peace in a statement said the successful flight also comes as a strong rebuttal to recent rumors suggesting the suspension of Air Peace from Hajj operations.

“Not only has the airline continued to uphold its reputation as a dependable partner in national service, but it has also now inaugurated the 2025 Hajj operations from a new departure city, Owerri.

“With this development, Air Peace and the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport have entered the annals of history, signaling a new era of regional integration, religious harmony, and aviation excellence in Nigeria,” the airline said in a statement.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

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