African carrier Air Peace and Congo Airways strengthen their fleet with Embraer E190 jets

Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, has taken delivery of an Embraer E190, marking another step in its fleet expansion strategy. The aircraft, registered as 5N-CER and configured with 96 seats, arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The jet flew with Kenya Airways until the beginning of the year and was stored in Nairobi until August. Air Peace had added a first-generation E-Jet in June amid issues with its E195-E2 fleet. The state-owned airline has five of these 124-seat jets, but four are grounded due to technical issues.

 Air Peace currently operates a fleet of 32 aircraft and plans to incorporate additional E190 jets in the coming year, aligning with its objective to increase domestic and regional capacity.

Meanwhile, African media reports claim that Congo Airways will resume flights with the introduction of an Embraer E190 into its fleet.

An aircraft that previously flew with SkyHigh of the Dominated Republic is associated with Congo Airways, but there is no official record of the transfer.

The state-owned carrier is experiencing financial problems and had to suspend flights in the second half of 2023.

In 2019, Congo Airways announced an order for two E175s with the option of another two Embraer jets, in an effort to modernize its fleet.

The following year, however, the carrier changed its mind and replaced the models with the same number of larger and more modern E2s. Later, the airline dropped the agreement with Embraer.

In November 2023, Congo Airways resumed its flights with two Boeing 737-800s leased from Klasjet on a wet-lease basis.

In 2024, Transport and Communications Minister Marc Ekila announced that Congo Airways’ “rebirth” plans are underway and four new jets are expected to join the fleet, a third Boeing 737-800 and three Embraer E190s.

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