Nigerian airline, Air Peace, is reportedly in talks with Boeing over a potential order for the B787 Dreamliner. The carrier’s CEO, Allen Onyema, mentioned the potential order during a SkyConnect Leadership Dialogue webcast hosted by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) on February 13, 2023.
According to Onyema, “We have our B777s, and we are also discussing with Boeing for the Dreamliner, which I feel will come very soon”. However, he did not provide any additional details.
Possible Challenges for Boeing
The news of Air Peace’s potential order comes at a challenging time for Boeing. In February 2023, the aircraft manufacturer halted B787 deliveries due to documentation issues related to a fuselage component. This delay is pending US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval.
As reported by Reuters, the government agency in charge of regulating civil aviation in the country remarked that deliveries will not resume until the problem is completely resolved. In that sense, its representatives explained that they are working with Boeing to determine any necessary action for the recently delivered aircraft.
The model has already experienced similar difficulties in recent years due to production defects initially discovered in 2020 and other problems that arose from extensive testing of the aircraft. As a result, Boeing had to slow the pace of production.
Deliveries were halted between November 2020 and March 2021, and suspended again between May 2021 and August 2022. As of last 26 January, deliveries are again on hold.
Air Peace’s Current Fleet
Air Peace’s current fleet consists of 38 aircraft, including three B777s, eight A320-200s wet-leased from SmartLynx Airlines, six B737-300s, one B737-400(SF) wet-leased from Airwork Flight Operations, five B737-500s, one Do328-300, five EMB-145LRs, and three EMB-145MPs, as per Aeronautical data website, CH-Aviation.
The privately-owned carrier has also ordered 15 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, including seven B737-8s and eight B737-10s. Furthermore, Air Peace has an outstanding order of eight Embraer E195-E2s out of a total order of thirteen, with five of the type already delivered.
Expansion Plans
Air Peace has been expanding its international routes and plans to add Mumbai International to its network on March 31, 2023. The airline already serves Dubai International, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, Accra, Banjul, Dakar Blaise Diagne International, Douala, Freetown, and Monrovia Roberts. Kinshasa N’Djili, Malabo, and Tel Aviv Ben Gurion are reportedly planned.
If Air Peace’s talks with Boeing materialize, the airline could be the first Nigerian carrier to operate the B787 Dreamliner.
The potential order would also support Air Peace’s expansion plans, particularly for long-haul routes. However, given the current challenges faced by Boeing with the B787, it remains to be seen whether Air Peace’s potential order will push through.
Featured image: @indian_spotter
