Air Peace has strongly condemned SmartLynx Airlines for what it described as an “unlawful, abrupt, and financially damaging” withdrawal of wet-leased aircraft, an action that plunged the Nigerian carrier into a week-long wave of flight delays and cancellations across its network.
Addressing journalists in Lagos, the Chief Commercial Officer of Air Peace, Mr Nowel Ngala, gave a detailed account of the events that triggered the disruptions, stressing that the airline was determined to protect its passengers and hold the foreign leasing firm accountable for what he called “a deliberate act of bad faith.”
Ngala explained that Air Peace had entered a wet-lease deal with SmartLynx to cushion the temporary shortage created by the scheduled maintenance of 13 Air Peace aircraft currently in overseas facilities. The decision, he said, was made to avoid service gaps and ensure continuity during a busy travel period.
“To guarantee that Nigerians could continue travelling comfortably while our aircraft undergo maintenance, we engaged SmartLynx under a wet-lease arrangement. This was purely in the interest of our passengers,” he stated.
However, the arrangement collapsed when SmartLynx, without prior warning, reportedly withdrew four of the leased aircraft that had already been assigned to scheduled flights.
Ngala described the action as a “gross violation of industry norms” and a breach of the contract between both organisations.
“SmartLynx withdrew the aircraft without a single notice, completely disregarding established aviation standards,” he said. “These aircraft had already been rostered for operations, and their sudden removal destabilised our schedules.”
More troubling, according to Ngala, is the allegation that SmartLynx had already collected significant upfront payments from Air Peace while knowing that the true owners of the aircraft were preparing to reclaim them due to SmartLynx’s own outstanding debts.
“SmartLynx collected over five million dollars from us, including more than one million dollars in security deposits, yet failed to meet its obligations to the actual owners of the aircraft,” he explained. “This entire behaviour is fraudulent, premeditated, and unprofessional.”
He added that other international airlines leasing aircraft from SmartLynx had suffered similar treatment, further demonstrating a pattern of “reckless corporate conduct.”
Air Peace estimates that the sudden withdrawal has cost the airline more than 15 million dollars in losses, excluding the reputational impact and the inconvenience caused to the travelling public.
Despite the dispute, Ngala said Air Peace has returned three of the aircraft to their rightful owners in good faith.
“One aircraft remains with us, but all we are asking for is a refund of our money. Nothing more,” he said. “We believe in integrity, and we are handling this matter responsibly, even though we are the aggrieved party.”
Ngala recalled that this was not the first time Air Peace had been confronted with the consequences of a dishonest or unstable lessor. He cited the case of SYPHAX Airlines of Tunisia, which he said disappeared with more than two million dollars paid by Air Peace after claiming it was taking the leased aircraft for maintenance.
“The aircraft was never returned, and the funds remain unaccounted for,” he lamented. “SYPHAX eventually went bankrupt, leaving us stranded. It is unfortunate that Nigerian operators face such treatment from some foreign leasing companies.”
He emphasised the need for improved global trust, transparency, and fairness in the aircraft leasing business, particularly in dealings involving African carriers.
Despite the setbacks, Ngala delivered a positive update: some Air Peace aircraft have completed their maintenance cycles and are returning to service.
“Two of our aircraft have already returned, and we expect more arrivals in the coming days,” he announced. “Starting next week, we anticipate a full restoration of operations across our route network.”
The return of Air Peace’s own aircraft is expected to stabilise schedules and eliminate the disruptions triggered by the withdrawal of the SmartLynx fleet.
Ngala apologised to passengers affected by the disruptions, assuring them that the airline was committed to preventing a recurrence and reinforcing its operational resilience.
“We sincerely regret the delays and cancellations our passengers experienced,” he said. “We thank them for their patience, understanding, and loyalty. Air Peace remains dedicated to delivering safe, reliable, and world-class services.”
He reaffirmed that the company would pursue every legitimate avenue to recover its funds and ensure that erring partners are held accountable.
Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest carrier, says it is now focused on restoring full operations, rebuilding passenger confidence, and strengthening its capacity to withstand future external shocks.
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