Air Peace denies plans to detain Smartlynx’s aircraft, seeks court action

Air Peace has clarified that it has no intention of detaining any Lessor’s aircraft in Nigeria or anywhere else.

The airline, in a statement, said its current issues with the trio of Smartlynx Airlines Malta Limited, SIA Smartlynx Airlines, and Smartlynx Estonia OU (hereinafter referred to as “Smartlynx”) stem from the operation of damp lease agreements involving four aircraft, during which Smartlynx deliberately defrauded it of several millions of dollars.

Air Peace said this is in addition to the severe disruptions to its scheduled operations during peak season, resulting in monumental reputational and operational damage to the airline.

“During the operation of the lease, Smartlynx deliberately defrauded Air Peace and fraudulently obtained several advance payments under the pretext that it would operate the agreed block hours.

Read also: Flight disruption: Air Peace blames lessor for breach of contract, seeks refund

“Smartlynx fully knew—months before receiving these payments—that it had no intention of operating the prepaid block hours, yet it continued to demand and receive payments from Air Peace under false pretences.

“As of the date of this press statement, Air Peace’s total losses stand at USD 38,042,843.84 (Thirty-eight million, forty-two thousand, eight hundred and forty-three dollars and eighty-four cents),” the airline explained.

It stated that this situation led to the initiation of court proceedings against Smartlynx.

“On 12 November 2025, the court issued an order against Smartlynx,” the airline added.

BusinessDay had earlier reported that Air Peace had experienced several operational disruptions, resulting in flight delays and cancellations after its major lessor, SmartLynx Airlines, unlawfully withdrew three of its aircraft from the Air Peace fleet.

Nowel Ngala, the chief commercial officer of Air Peace, said his company entered a wet-lease agreement with Smartlynx because 13 of its aircraft are currently undergoing scheduled maintenance abroad.

Read also: Air Peace sets precedent with dry lease aircraft acquisition

“To avoid service gaps and ensure Nigerians could continue to travel conveniently, Air Peace leased aircraft from SmartLynx in a bid to support Nigerian passengers during peak travel periods,” Ngala said.

He said the disruptions were caused by the abrupt and unjustified withdrawal of four aircraft we wet-leased from SmartLynx Airlines.

This withdrawal, he disclosed, was done without prior notice, describing it as a clear violation of industry standards, and of the agreement between both parties.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers.

She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay.

She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos.

As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender.

She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies.

Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category.

She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category.

She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations.

Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

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