Nigeria's Air Peace has taken delivery of a Boeing 737-900 (MSN 41534) and a Boeing 737-700 (MSN 35086), expanding its 737NG fleet as the carrier replaces older 737 Classics with more fuel-efficient aircraft.
Vilnius-based Friendly Avia Support (FAS) acted as transaction arranger and exclusive advisor to the seller. Both aircraft completed scheduled maintenance and were repainted in Kaunas, Lithuania.
FAS vice president of sales Mark Laneckij said aviation fuel accounts for nearly half of African carriers' operating expenses, a cost pressure he said is compounded by persistent volatility in global jet fuel prices.
"Upgrading from older 737 Classics to the more efficient 737NG is a commercial necessity," said Laneckij.
Regulatory constraints on imported aircraft are also shaping fleet decisions in the region.
"Strict regional registration rules, which typically cap the age of newly imported aircraft at 15 to 20 years, further reinforce the 737NG as the primary workhorse for African market expansion," said Laneckij.
The 737-900 is the first of the variant in the Air Peace fleet, while the 737-700 is its second of the type. Both aircraft are configured with two-class cabins.
The two aircraft add to an extended run of deliveries this year. Air Peace has already received four previously acquired Boeing 737-800NGs, a new Embraer E175 and a pre-owned Embraer E195.
The interim Air Peace 737NG programme bridges the gap to new-build deliveries, with 10 Boeing 737 MAX 8s on order, scheduled to begin arriving in 2028.
The carrier has also ordered 16 Embraer E195-E2s, five of which have been delivered, making it the launch customer for the type in Africa.
The current fleet comprises Boeing 737 Classic and NG narrowbodies, Embraer E145, E175, E190, E195 and E195-E2 regional jets, and Boeing 777 widebodies for long-haul operations.
