Air Peace Battles Turbulence as Lessor Walks Away, Withdraws 2 Aircraft, Disrupts Flights
- Air Peace has said that it lost about $15 million after a lessor withdrew two aircraft, which experts say may affect operations
- The company disclosed that the past week has been very difficult due to the abrupt and unauthorised withdrawals
- The chief commercial officer, said Air Peace entered the wet-lease plan because 13 of its own aircraft are in maintenance
Pascal Oparada is a journalist with Legit.ng, covering technology, energy, stocks, investment, and the economy for over a decade.
Air Peace has confirmed that its operations were thrown into disarray after SmartLynx Airlines, its major wet-lease partner, suddenly withdrew leased aircraft without notice.
Sudden withdrawal triggers turbulence
Air Peace says the past week has been one of its most challenging in recent months. According to the airline, abrupt and unauthorized withdrawal of leased aircraft by SmartLynx Airlines sparked widespread disruptions, forcing flight delays and cancellations across its network.
Source: UGC
At a briefing in Lagos, the chief commercial officer, Nowel Ngala, said Air Peace entered the wet-lease arrangement because 13 of its own aircraft are currently undergoing scheduled maintenance abroad. The goal was to keep operations stable through the peak travel period.
According to a BusinessDay report, Ngala explained that SmartLynx pulled out four aircraft in violation of industry standards and the signed agreement.
He described the move as both abrupt and unjustified, noting that the affected aircraft had already been assigned to scheduled flights.
Millions lost and fleets disrupted
The sudden withdrawal left the airline scrambling to reorganize flight schedules.
Ngala disclosed that SmartLynx had already collected more than five million dollars from Air Peace, including over one million dollars in security deposits, before walking back from the deal.
The company estimates that the disruption has cost Air Peace more than fifteen million dollars in operational and reputational damages.
According to Ngala, SmartLynx acted despite being aware that the actual owners of the aircraft were preparing to repossess them due to SmartLynx’s own payment defaults.
Other airlines around the world that leased aircraft from SmartLynx were reportedly hit by similar issues, pointing to a pattern of unprofessional conduct.
Not the first time
Ngala said this is not the first time a foreign lessor has left the airline stranded.
He recalled a previous incident with Syphax Airlines of Tunisia, which allegedly disappeared with more than two million dollars belonging to Air Peace after claiming its aircraft had been taken for maintenance.
The aircraft never returned, and the funds have remained unaccounted for.
He said Nigerian airlines routinely face hostile or unfair treatment in global leasing arrangements, and the latest episode underscores the scale of the challenge.
Impact on Heathrow and other international flights
The withdrawal of the leased aircraft may affect several of Air Peace’s key routes, including its Abuja-London Heathrow service.
The airline depends on a mix of its own fleet and wet-leased aircraft to maintain frequency on the popular UK route, so the sudden drop in available planes resulted in schedule gaps and reduced operational flexibility.
International routes such as Jeddah, Guangzhou and Johannesburg also faced disruptions. Some flights were rescheduled, while others experienced extended delays as the airline attempted to reorganize aircraft allocation.
The disruptions temporarily weakened Air Peace’s competitive edge on the busy Heathrow corridor, where maintaining consistent frequencies is essential for slot retention, passenger confidence and revenue stability.
Recovery begins
Ngala said two of Air Peace’s own aircraft have completed maintenance and returned to service. More are expected in the coming days, and full operations should resume next week.
Source: Getty Images
He apologized for the inconvenience caused but reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to safe and reliable service.
He added that Air Peace is taking steps to prevent similar issues in the future and will pursue all remedies available to recover the funds owed by SmartLynx.
Air Peace flight in Abuja suffers engine failure
Legit.ng earlier reported that An Air Peace flight from Abuja to Asaba, Delta state, escaped a potential disaster on Friday, October 10, after the aircraft suffered an engine failure while preparing for take-off at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Legit.ng reports that the airline confirmed the development via a statement signed by its management.
The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft had gained speed and was almost closing in on the runway for take-off when a loud blast was heard, followed by flashes of light.
Source: Legit.ng
