Air Peace will be using a pair of Airbus A320s operated by Latvian-based wet-lease specialist SmartLynx Airlines as part of a damp lease deal, as the West African carrier anticipates increased demand. The airline is increasing its capacity with Airbus aircraft set to grace its fleet for the first time.
The agreement was signed between SmartLynx Airlines and Air Peace on November 11, 2021 and will last until May 11, 2022. The lease sees SmartLynx return to Nigeria who had previously operated in the region and the rest of Africa from 2007.
SmartLynx Airlines VP of Sales and Development, Edvinas Demenius, stated, “While the pandemic has sadly taken its toll on many businesses, our strategy has been focused on the expansion of our valued client portfolio.”
“The introduction of the Nigerian airline, Air Peace, the biggest airline in Western Africa, comes as an integral part of that focus on client growth and the company’s expansion into dynamic new markets.”
Regarding business life during COVID, Demenius added, “The aviation industry is slowly recovering in the wake of a global pandemic and SmartLynx are dedicated to supporting that growth in travel demand in any way we can.”
“Another important commitment for us, and one which is backed up by our signing of the EASA Covid Charter, is to maintain and continuously improve safer flying methods. There have been challenging times in the past 20 months, but with the acquisition of new clients like Air Peace, there are clear signs of a brighter future for SmartLynx and the entire aviation industry.”
The onboarding of Air Peace comes as a part of SmartLynx’ continuous reach into potential new markets. The move also demonstrates the company’s commitment to expanding its client portfolio, in support of the growing demand for safe travel. This commitment to safety has been underlined by SmartLynx’s signing of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Covid Charter.
The Chief Operating Officer, Air Peace, Oluwatoyin Olajide, stated, “We are happy to have entered into the 6-month damp-lease agreement with SmartLynx and we believe this will open up more layers of business relationship with them.”
“We are damp-leasing two A320s to meet the growing travel demand in the Nigerian and larger West African markets while we expect to take delivery of more Embraer 195-E2 airplanes. Air Peace is committed to reducing the air travel burden of Nigerians and this deal with SmartLynx is a testament to this commitment. The two A320s will be deployed to boost both domestic and regional connectivity for our esteemed customers, as the Yuletide draws near”.
Air Peace currently services 19 domestic routes, 6 regional routes and 2 international destinations, including Johannesburg, while it boasts of a varied fleet of 30 aircraft, the latest being four brand new 124-seat capacity Embraer 195-E2 jets.
By Victor Shalton Odhiambo
