Air Peace airline has been applauded for its new growth plans which includes the order for 10 brand new Embraer 195-E2 aircraft.
The order comprises purchase rights for a further 20 E195-E2 jets.
This move makes Air Peace the first to order the brand of jets in Africa, thereby becoming the official launch customer of the brand of aircraft in Africa.
Aviation experts and stakeholders are celebrating this feat and have suggested that the airline immediately commence the building of its own hanger for simple maintenance and checks to speed up the growth of the airline.
Air Peace had also set a regional record in September 2018 when it ordered 10 brand new aircraft from Boeing, increasing its fleet size then to about 37 aircraft.
With the new order, Air Peace’s fleet size will increase to 67 aircraft.
Shortly before the firm order for 10 brand new aircraft from Boeing, Air Peace set a domestic record as the first Nigerian airline to acquire and register the Boeing 777 aircraft in the country.
Three of the four wide-body aircraft it acquired for its long-haul operations to Dubai, Sharjah, Johannesburg, London, Houston, Guangzhou and Mumbai have so far been delivered.
According to Saturday Vanguard, a former staff of the first regulatory authority of the civil aviation in Nigeria, Federal Civil Aviation Authority and an Aeronautic Engineer, Babatude Obadofin said what Air Peace has done in recent times is a demonstration of an airline that wants to compete with international airlines and has growth plans to actualize that competition.
“A serious airline that wants to do business should not just go to the market to buy or lease a used aircraft. It should be ready to buy and add the latest brand of aircraft to its fleet.
“ Air Peace is showing that it has foresight and has growth plan that will make it competitive.
READ ALSO:Air Peace Secures $2.1bn Brand New E195-E2 Jets Deal
Engineer Sheri Kyari, a former engineer with defunct Nigeria Airways commended Air Peace for making Nigeria proud by being the first airline to order the brand of jets in the whole of Africa, thereby becoming the official launch customer of the brand of aircraft in Africa.
“I am so proud of that young man” ( Air Peace Chairman, Mr Allen Onyema).
“I commend his courage and zeal to make a success of his airline. I believe the federal government should do everything to encourage him and make him succeed. He has shown that Nigeria can also produce an airline that can compete with the big foreign ones if the enabling environment is created by the government.
“He should immediately commence the building of an hanger for the airline. That is what he needs now for the large fleet he is building. That will facilitate the growth of the airline and will help easy maintenance,” he added.
Onyema extended his appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for creating an enabling environment for the growth of aviation in Nigeria through waving customs duties on commercial aircraft, engines and spares as well as granting value-added tax (VAT) waiver.
“Without these noble gestures from my President, Muhammadu Buhari, Air Peace would not have been able to achieve this growth. Thank you very much, Mr. President”, he said.
Responding , Vice President, Sales Africa, Embraer Commercial Aviation, Mr. Raul Villaron said: “Air Peace embodies the kind of pioneering spirit Embraer loves.
“The airline was established to bring highly skilled work opportunities to the people of Nigeria, boosting connectivity, and therefore the economy, in the region.
“Air Peace has delivered on both aims, while at the same time developing a fast-growing successful airline. It’s great to have them on board.”
Posted by Yetunde Adegoke
