Air Peace (P4, Lagos) is in talks with Boeing over a potential B787 order, according to Chief Executive Officer Allen Onyema.
Responding to a question on the carrier's fleet plans during a SkyConnect Leadership Dialogue webcast hosted by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) on February 13, 2023, Onyema said: "We have our B777s, and we are also discussing with Boeing for the Dreamliner, which I feel will come very soon". He did not elaborate.
Asked for comment, Boeing deferred to Air Peace. "We generally don’t comment on negotiations," a spokesperson said.
This comes after Boeing shares fell nearly 5% at the end of February on the news that the manufacturer was halting B787 deliveries over documentation issues related to a fuselage component. Deliveries will be delayed pending US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval. It also comes as the first two commercial B787 are being retired and dismantled for spare parts by Irish asset management and trading company EirTrade Aviation.
Meanwhile, Onyema said the privately-owned carrier was awaiting the delivery of a firm order of fifteen B737 MAX, including seven B737-8s and eight B737-10s, all "paid for". According to the latest Embraer order book, Air Peace also has an outstanding order of eight E195-E2s out of a total order of thirteen, with five of the type already delivered.
The rest of the fleet of 37 aircraft comprises three B777s (one B777-200ERs and two B777-300s); eight A320-200s wet-leased from SmartLynx Airlines (6Y, Riga); six B737-300s; one B737-400(SF) wet-leased from Airwork Flight Operations (AWK, Auckland International); five B737-500s; one Do328-300; five EMB-145LRs and three -MPs, according to ch-aviation fleets data.
Air Peace intends to commence its ninth international route to Mumbai International on March 31, 2023, according to an announcement on social media. The airline already serves Dubai International (UAE), Johannesburg O.R. Tambo (South Africa), Accra (Ghana), Banjul (Gambia), Dakar Blaise Diagne International (Senegal), Douala (Cameroon), Freetown (Sierra Leone), and Monrovia Roberts (Liberia). Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (Israel), Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), and Kinshasa N'Djili (DRC) are reportedly planned.
