Air Peace deploys wetleased aircraft from SmartLynx for yuletide operations

Abiola Seun

Air Peace has deployed two of it newly wetleased aircraft, Airbus A320 from Latvia’s SmartLynx Airlines until May 11, 2022 for yuletide operation.

According to a statement released by SmartLynx Airlines on November 24, the agreement sees the return of SmartLynx to Nigeria, a region it has been successfully operating in since 2007.

In its statement, SmartLynx says the move demonstrates the Latvian airline’s commitment to expanding its client portfolio into new markets.

Speaking about the new agreement with Air Peace and the overall situation in the aviation industry in its statement, SmartLynx Airlines VP of Sales and Development, Edvinas Demenius, said, “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, 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.”

However, the Air Peace Chief Operating Officer, Oluwatoyin Olajide, said the wetlease signified Air Peace’s commitment to reducing the air travel burden of Nigerians, and the deal with SmartLynx is a testament to this commitment.

“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.”

The spokesman of the airline, Stanley Olisa has, however, confirmed the wetleasing of the two aircraft from SmartLynx Airlines.

In a press statement made available over the weekend, he said the airline has taken delivery of two Airbus 320s to boost domestic and regional operations,

Olisa said the two 162-seater aircraft, with 12 Business Class seats and 150 Economy seats each, arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, around 20:00hrs on Thursday.

He said, “The two A320s will be deployed to boost both domestic and regional connectivity for our esteemed customers, as the Yuletide draws near.”

He added that the new A320s will help the airline in its drive to meet the growing travel demand in the Nigerian and larger West African markets while it expects to take delivery of more Embraer 195-E2 airplanes.

According to Olisa, “Air Peace is committed to reducing the air travel burden of Nigerians and these new airplanes are a testament to this commitment.”