Air Peace has placed a firm order for five Embraer E175 aircraft valued N221, 613,327,000.00 ($288.3 million).
The airline said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr Stanley Olisa that the order “is a strategic decision” that “marks a significant step forward and is in alignment with Air Peace’s ongoing strategy of modernising its fleet.”
It further said the acquisition was in line with the carrier’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$288.3 million. 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,” it stated
The statement quoted the chairman and chief executive officer of the airline, Mr Allen Onyema as saying that the acquisition of the equipment would enable the airline to carry through its no-city-left-behind programme.
“This is another important step in helping to realize 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,” he said.
The statement also quoted the vice president, sales and marketing, head of Africa and Middle East Region, commercial aviation of Embraer, Mr Stephan Hannemann as pledging the aircraft manufacturer’s commitment to supporting Air Peace establish local maintenance capabilities in Nigeria.
