Victor Ezeja
West and Central Africa largest carrier, Air Peace, has entered an agreement with Slovak carrier, AirExplore, to obtain four Boeing 737-800 aircraft on dry lease.
Air Peace is taking this step as part of efforts to improve its domestic operations within Nigeria to meet the higher demand anticipated during the Yuletide season.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe deal states that under the dry-leasing arrangement, Air Peace will supply cabin crew members, while AirExplore, a subsidiary of Avia Solutions Group (ASG), will provide pilots for the aircraft.
Prime Business Africa understands that the cabin crew members to be used for the flight operations are presently undergoing training for the role.
According to Ejike Ndiulo, Head of Corporate Communications at Air Peace Limited, the arrangement will enable the airline to retain its excellent customer service standards while utilising AirExplore’s operational know-how.
READ ALSO: At 10, Is Air Peace Really Synonymous With Nigeria’s Aviation Successes?
Ndiulo said Air Peace has a robust existing fleet which include seven Boeing 737-300s, four Boeing 737-500s, a Boeing 777-200ER, two Boeing 777-300s, eight Embraer E145s, five Embraer E195-E2s, and an executive Dornier 328-300.
He further revealed that the airline also has ambitious expansion plans, with pending orders for 10 Boeing 737-8s, five Embraer E175s, and eight more Embraer E195-E2s.
Air Peace has two Boeing 737-700s obtained from Eznis Airways on wet-lease.
These collaborations have been crucial to Air Peace’s ability to maintain smooth operations, particularly during periods of high travel demand.
Air Peace has a history of adapting to the demands of seasonal travel, as seen by the successful dry-leasing of two Airbus A320-200s from SmartLynx Airlines Malta, another ASG member, from 2021 to 2023.
This highlights the airline’s commitment to always meeting the customers’ needs.
Experts believe that the decision to obtain four Boeing 737-800 aircraft on dry lease from Air explore is a strategic one for Air Peace, indicating its a determined effort to maximise operational capacity while improving travelers’ experience.
The airline which recently celebrated 10 years anniversary since it commenced operations, has been focused on route expansion with the overarching goal of connecting Nigerian and Africa travellers to the rest of the world and stimulating economic activities.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
