Dead On Arrival: Air Peace’s Lagos-London Flights, Norwegian Airline To Provide Crew, Aircraft

A Norwegian low-cost airline called Norse Atlantic will provide crew and aircraft to Air Peace for its Lagos-London operations.

Norse Atlantic will link Lagos to London – an unusual service for the Nigerian airline, which usually flies from Europe to the United States and the Caribbean.

Air Peace, a Nigerian private airline announced that it would commence direct flight operations from Lagos to Gatwick Airport in London, from March 30, 2024.

According to a Skift report, Norse will operate as a charter as an ‘ACMI’ contract.

An ACIM contract also known as wet or damp leasing, is an agreement between two airlines, where the lessor agrees to provide an aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance [ACMI] to the lessee – in return for payment on the number of block hours operated.

Norse will also provide maintenance and insurance to Air Peace

The move has been described by Norse as marking “the beginning of a strategic partnership” between the two companies.

Aside from Air Peace, Norse has entered various sub-leasing deals, including with Spanish operator, Air Europa, to better leverage its assets.

The carrier signed a long-term aircraft leasing contract on very favourable terms during the peak of the pandemic.

Norse said its low-cost base allows the company to be nimbler and park planes during quieter periods.

Also, Norse recently trimmed back its flying program, with cuts to some transatlantic destinations and a renewed focus on core markets such as New York and Florida.

However, the Lagos-London link will mark Air Peace’s first foray into the European market, as the airline currently flies within Africa as well as select routes to the United Arab Emirates [UAE], China, and India.

Although Norse is already a major operator at Gatwick, it will be using new slots allocated to Air Peace for the route.

The development will put the Nigerian carrier in competition with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which already operate from London Heathrow to Lagos.

Meanwhile, several aviation and travel analysts are sceptical about the viability and the capacity of Air Peace to see through this difficult and complicated arrangement with the Norwegian low-cost airline.

Despite the anticipated low load factor that Virgin Nigeria suffered that awaits Air Peace, the purported fares being speculated would not be enough to pay the crew, ground handler company, cost of chartering the aircraft and among several cost that would be associated with these operations.

For the mere fact that the aircraft to be used by Air Peace on the route is to be chartered is a no no for several travelling Nigerian public.

Many that have spoken to African Travel Times noted that this move is a distraction and are hoping for a national carrier that would be able to challenge British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

By www.cable.ng with additional report by African Travel Times