Air Peace’s fleet expansion gathers pace as eighth aircraft arrives
Air Peace on Wednesday took delivery of another Embraer 190 aircraft, bringing the number of Embraer aircraft in its fleet to 18 and, more significantly, the total number of aircraft acquired by the airline so far in 2026 to eight.
The 96-seat Embraer 190 arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal 2, Lagos, at about 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7, and was flown into the country by Captain Mrs. Ibironke Rotimi-Olajide.
The aircraft was named after Mrs. Eka Sunmonu, wife of Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, former Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
The naming is significant because it represents a departure from Air Peace’s tradition of naming its aircraft after members of the Onyema family. Mrs. Sunmonu is the first person outside the Onyema family to have an Air Peace aircraft named after her.
The latest Embraer 190 brings its Embraer fleet to 18. The fleet includes the technologically advanced E2 series, with Air Peace being the launch customer for the aircraft in Africa.
Air Peace has also acquired five Boeing 737-800 aircraft in 2026, further expanding its capacity and giving it more options in deploying aircraft across its domestic, regional and international routes.
In other words, eight aircraft have joined the Air Peace fleet this year.
The investment comes in an industry where aircraft acquisition, maintenance, crew training, insurance, spare parts and other operational requirements are accompanied by enormous costs.
The latest Embraer 190 has 12 Business Class seats and 84 Economy Class seats. Business Class is configured in a 1-2 arrangement, while Economy is 2-2, eliminating the much-dreaded middle seat.
Passengers also get generous legroom, a spacious cabin and in-seat power sockets.
Air Peace spokesperson, Mr. Osifo-Whiskey Efe, said the latest addition was part of the airline’s deliberate strategy to build a diverse fleet capable of supporting its expanding network.
“The arrival of another Embraer 190 is an important milestone in our strategic fleet expansion programme. We are deliberately building a diverse and versatile fleet that gives us the operational flexibility required to strengthen our network, improve schedule resilience and provide greater connectivity across the markets we serve,” he said.
Efe added that with 18 Embraer aircraft now in the fleet, alongside the airline’s growing Boeing portfolio, Air Peace was building capacity for the long term.
“Every fleet decision is tied to our broader expansion strategy and our commitment to deploying the right aircraft across our domestic, regional and international network,” he stated.
As Air Peace continues to expand its domestic operations, deepen its presence across Africa and pursue more international destinations, the size and diversity of its fleet will increasingly become critical to how far and how fast it can go.
