Air Peace airline has placed an order for five brand new Embraer E175s aircraft for fleet expansion and renewal worth N265.2 billion ($2.88.3 million), from Brazil.
In a press statement made available to LEADERSHIP Weekend by the spokesman of the airline, Stanley Olisa, he said, deliveries of the 88 seat aircraft start in 2024.
According to him, the decision for the new aircraft was in alignment with Air Peace’s ongoing strategy of modernising its fleet.
“This acquisition is in line with Air Peace’s determination to become the operator of the largest and youngest fleet of aircraft in Africa. It reinforces Air Peace’s commitment to enhancing its domestic and regional network connectivity and paves the way for further regional expansion. Deliveries of the 88 seat aircraft start in 2024. The value of the order, at list price, is US$288.3m,” he stated.
Already an operator of Embraer’s newest and largest jet, the E195-E2, these smaller aircraft will complement the airlines’ existing fleet, allowing Air Peace to dynamically match capacity to demand, protecting yields and route viability.
The chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, said: “This is another important step in helping to realise our ambition to connect the whole of Nigeria with the entire African continent, while also feeding passengers into long-haul flights from our Lagos hub.
“The acquisition enables us to continue delivering on our ‘no-city-left-behind’ initiative – connectivity is what our passengers, and Africa, demand. The deal also paves the way to establish local maintenance capabilities in Nigeria, with direct support from Embraer.
“Air Peace’s strategic and innovative approach continues to make them a powerhouse of aviation success in West Africa. Already an E2 operator, it now makes sense to upgauge their ERJ145 fleet, offering passengers more seats and comfort with the E175. The commonality of the cockpits between the E1 and E2 fleet also simplifies aircrew costs and management.
“Acknowledging Air Peace’s significant investment in the acquisition of the Embraer fleet of aircraft, which has increased to 18 brand new firm aircraft to date, Embraer, in partnership with Air Peace is committed to directly supporting the establishment of local maintenance capabilities in Nigeria”, said VP Sales & Marketing, Head of Africa & Middle East Region, Commercial Aviation, Stephan Hannemann.