Nigeria is the second-largest sub-Saharan country in February, with only South Africa having more seats. However, Nigeria slips down the table if flights on offer and available seat miles are considered instead. While the country’s domination varies, Air Peace is the largest of the nation’s relatively small airlines, no matter how it is measured.
This specific aircraft is now registered 9H-SLF and when writing is en route from Enugu to Lagos. The aircraft was delivered to Nas Air (as it then was) in 2008. After brief use with Ryanair’s Lauda as OE-IOD, it joined SmartLynx Malta’s fleet in June 2021. Photo: Getty Images. Introducing Air Peace
Founded in 2013, Air Peace is now the biggest carrier in West Africa and the sixth-largest in sub-Saharan Africa. In the present month, it has about 372,000 seats for sale, according to OAG schedules information. Only Ethiopian Airlines, Safair, Airlink, Kenya Airways, and Comair have more. Some of these are larger because of bigger aircraft or more seats per flight, offsetting a smaller fleet or particular network. Of course, Ethiopian Airlines is overwhelmingly Africa’s largest operator .
In February, some 3.8 million seats are available to, from, and within West and Central Africa across all carriers. While Air Peace is number-one, it has only a 10% share, a reminder of how fragmented African aviation often is. The next African carrier is Ethiopian Airlines, thanks to three-quarters of its flights there being by widebodies. A reasonable chunk of Air Peace’s fleet is currently inactive, including two-thirds of its B777s, obviously pushing down its numbers.
Air Peace’s domination changes if services exclusively within West Africa are considered. Its share more than doubles to nearly one in ten, followed by Arik Air, ASKY, Ibom Air, and Air Côte d’Ivoire. While hardly surprising, the significance of Nigeria – by far Africa’s largest country by population – is clear. However, it is still very far from its potential.
Out of the image is Johannesburg, served by the carrier’s B777-300s. It operates on Thursdays and Sundays, leaving Lagos at 01:35 and arriving at 07:55 local time. After a day on the ground, it departs at 23:55 and arrives home at 04:55 the next day. Note that it isn’t currently serving the UAE. Image: OAG.
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