Air Peace takes delivery of E190 jet, breaks tradition on aircraft naming

Nigeria’s flag carrier airline, Air Peace, has taken another major step in its strategic fleet expansion programme with the delivery of an Embraer 190 jet.

The new arrival brings the airline’s total Embraer fleet to 18 aircraft, including the ultra-modern E195-E2 series, for which Air Peace is the African launch customer.

The 96-seat jet touched down at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at approximately 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. The ferry flight into Lagos was commanded by Captain (Mrs.) Ibironke Rotimi-Olajide.

This delivery marks the eighth aircraft the airline acquired in 2026 alone, highlighting the rapid pace of its operational scaling.

In a departure from corporate tradition, the aircraft has been named after Mrs Eka Sunmonu, wife of former Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr Mutiu Sunmonu.

This is the first time Air Peace is naming an aircraft after someone outside the family of its founder, Mr Allen Onyema.

The newly arrived Embraer 190 features a dual-class cabin configured with 12 Business Class and 84 Economy Class seats.

Designed for enhanced passenger comfort, the Business Class section offers a 1-2 layout for added privacy and personal space, while the 2-2 Economy Class seating eliminates the middle seat entirely. The cabin also offers generous legroom and in-seat power outlets across both classes.

The growing Embraer fleet complements the airline’s broader aircraft portfolio, which includes Boeing jets deployed on domestic, regional, and long-haul international routes. So far in 2026, Air Peace has also taken delivery of five Boeing 737-800 aircraft to bolster capacity.

Speaking on the strategic addition, Air Peace spokesperson, Mr Osifo-Whiskey Efe, emphasised that the acquisition reinforces the carrier’s focus on operational agility and route expansion.

“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.

“With 18 Embraer aircraft now in our fleet, alongside our growing Boeing portfolio, we are 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.”

With this strategic mix of regional and mainline jets, Air Peace continues to deepen its footprint in Nigeria and the broader African continent while supporting its expanding international flight schedule.

Wole Shadare