Despite the travails of the CEO of Air Peace, Chief Allen Ifechukwu Athan Onyema, the airline has reason to celebrate as Air Peace has wet-leased one Boeing 737-800NG from Portuguese charter specialist and leasing company EuroAtlantic.
Air Peace leased EuroAtlantic’s one and only Boeing 737 registered CS-TQU and arrived at Air Peace hanger on 7th November.
It is currently at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
This is cheerful news for the burgeoning airline over the relatively newer Boeing 737-800 series at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja in Lagos operated by Portugese EuroAtlantic but with Air Peace logo.
ElombahNews gathered that it is the first of its kind in Nigeria as no airline uses this modern aircraft as other aircrafts owned or leased by Air Peace looks relatively too old.
It is understood that it is used on Lagos – Port Harcourt route but might possibly fly Lagos – Enugu route in the near future.
The Nigerian airline is expecting the Boeing 737-800 but it is not yet clear when the aircraft will start operations.
EuroAtlantic had acquired the aircraft in 2012 and previously operated in a fleet of Boeing 767-300ER and 777-200ER. CS-TQU is set up in a two-class configuration.
There will be 144 Economy class seats and 16 Business class seats with a general TV screen shared in the cabin.
Economy is set up in 3-3 formation with a single aisle, whilst business class offers passengers more room with a 2-2 formation and leather reclining seats.
Air Peace has recently undergone a network expansion making true on its promise.
It promised to, among other things, “…expand locations both domestically and beyond as the largest and most profitable airline company to achieve safe, efficient and affordable short and long haul services.”
This year, it completed its first long haul international service to Sharjah, UAE. But it’s looking at more destinations to add to its route network.
At the top of the list are Johannesburg, Mumbai, Guangzhou, Houston, and London. Perhaps this Boeing 737-800NG will be instrumental in making some of the airline’s dreams come true.
As Air Peace doesn’t have a 737-800 in its fleet yet, this will be the first. The airline flies some 777 and 737 varieties and a Dornier 328-200.
It also has 10 Boeing 737 MAX 8 on order as well as a pending order of 20 Embraer 195-E2, according to Wikipedia.
Its fleet is definitely diverse and that’s important. In order to be successful, Air Peace is adopting the strategy of taking on multiple aircraft models.
It allows the airline more flexibility when it comes to route expansion and scheduling which will hopefully attract the attention of a wide selection of passengers.
A Boeing 737-800 will further help to diversify its fleet and expand its network.
The Chief Operating Officer for Air Peace, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide, while speaking hopefully of the airline’s rosy future to The Nation, said:
“In 2020, Air Peace projects it would more than double the number of passengers carried to about seven or eight million people as it introduces more long-haul services and gets deliveries of more aircraft.”
Air Peace has been flying commercially since 2014 and is targeting to create network options for its customers as well as making them affordable.
It currently has 23 aircrafts in its fleet and 30 more on order.