Today I went down a rabbit hole researching an airline that I’ve heard of before, but had never really explored in detail. Specifically, I’m talking about the Nigerian airline Air Peace, which is currently the country’s “leading” carrier (and its largest).
Gosh, I’ve loved everything about researching this airline, and would find it such an adventure to fly them one day. From the non-refurbished aircraft the airline inherited from other carriers to its politics with various airport authorities, this is such an entertaining airline that I’d love to try out one day.
I saw a new airline check-in desk at Gatwick today…
I recently started work near Gatwick Airport, and my commute goes through the South Terminal to and from work. I was heading in for a morning meeting today, and saw an Air Peace check-in desk. I thought that was cool, as I hadn’t recalled seeing an Air Peace plane in London before – though I headed to work, and didn’t think much of it. I figured Air Peace must fly from Lagos to Gatwick a few times a week (or something).
I had something to head to after work, so once again commuted through Gatwick Airport, and what did I see? An Air Peace check-in desk, checking in for another flight.
Air Peace Check-in Desk at Gatwick Airport
So today I learned that the airline operates a thrice-weekly flight from Gatwick to Abuja (Nigeria’s capital), and a daily flight to the country’s biggest megacity, Lagos. It looks like the Lagos route has been going since 2024, whereas the Abuja route was introduced in late 2025. (By the way, the check-in desk pictured above was for a flight leaving at 9:10 PM. It was 5:03 PM when the photo was taken – interesting to see how different airlines’ passengers go to check in at vastly different times!)
The area I most enjoyed looking at was the planes Air Peace operated, as well as how they managed to secure their London slots. What a hot, fabulous mess – I can’t wait to try this airline firsthand someday.
Air Peace’s three 777s, all with (different) retro cabin interiors from different airlines
The first element I enjoyed researching about Air Peace was their longhaul fleet. Both of the Gatwick routes are operated by 777s, and actually Air Peace also operates a Heathrow route to Abuja three times a week, making the total London to Abuja service six times a week. The airline actually only has three 777s, and these operate the London route quite regularly. In fact, none of the 777s actually fly anywhere else at the moment.
Air Peace’s first 777 is a 777-200, and it was acquired in 2018. The airline acquired this 777 from Emirates, who phased out their last non-LR 777-200 in 2015 – talk about an ancient aircraft!
The Emirates 777 featured 12 first class seats, 42 business class seats, and 220 economy seats, whereas the Air Peace 777 is registered to have 54 business class seats and 220 economy seats. It’s pretty clear what happened here – first class was simply just registered as business class, as it’s quite likely that the plane has Emirates’ old 2-2-2 first class product. This would mean that the aircraft has the Emirates angled-flat business class (which I reviewed in 2019), whereas they’d have a 3-4-3 configuration in economy.
Air Peace’s oldest 777 has an ex-Emirates angled-flat business class product
What about their second 777? This was a 777-300 from Singapore Airlines…from their regional fleet. I’m not actually quite sure what happened to the seatmap here – the airplane used to have eight first class seats, 50 business class seats, and 226 economy class seats, whereas the plane now has 50 business class seats and 269 economy class seats. I’m not sure if they just moved the business class seats forward in the plane and somehow sourced some retro economy class seats.
Josh Cahill flew this 777 back last year, and it looks like the business class cabin was preserved from Singapore Airlines, which was their last-generation regional business class seat (which I flew with Hong Kong Airlines in 2018, and sort of liked, as it had good storage). What about in economy? This isn’t Singapore Airlines’ newest interiors, of course…nor is it the last-generation economy seats…but the one before that, which was introduced onboard Singapore Airlines planes prior to 2006.
This is a picture of a Singapore Airlines plane, though it features the economy seats featured on this Air Peace aircraft (credit: Jonas Vonstein)
The third 777 is the one I found coolest. The airline only took delivery of this 777 in 2025, and it’s Japan Airlines’ old mid-haul 777-200, which the airline retired in 2023. I actually flew a similarly configured plane back in 2019, and recognised the seats – they’re reverse herringbone seats, so probably the best seats in the airline’s fleet.
Air Peace 777 Business Class
This particular plane was gutted of its premium economy cabin before it left Japan Airlines’ fleet (it was replaced with more economy seats, and the business class cabin was also slashed from 40 to 26 seats), though the 3-4-2 economy class configuration is retained. That’s right, Air Peace is now the only airline to feature an asymmetrical 3-4-2 configuration in economy class, or so I believe.
Air Peace 777 Economy Class
Talk about a rag-tag bunch of aircraft! I have so many questions…
- I know (from YouTube videos) that at least some of the aircraft play Air Peace’s safety video, though does Air Peace hook their own entertainment system up to each of these aircraft? Or do they otherwise just fly with the moving map?
- What do the logistics look like when parts are broken or need to be replaced? I imagine these planes must be absolute fixer-uppers, or the maintenance process must be really complicated?
- More importantly, how does the airline manage capacity? Obviously the seatmaps are different, but these planes seem to fly interchangeably with little rhyme or rhythm to the rota – one aircraft can have 50 business class seats and 269 economy seats, whereas another aircraft has 26 business class seats and 286 economy seats
It’s interesting to see Air Peace operate retired aircraft from these three airlines, all reputed for having some of the best onboard products in the air. This must be an absolute treat for an avgeek, especially given the excitement of not knowing which product you’ll get until you board the aircraft.
Air Peace’s slot demands in London
Air Peace began flying to London in 2024, and oh boy, did they start with a fanfare. Air Peace was told to consider flying to Stansted or Gatwick instead of London Heathrow, and here’s what the airline’s CEO had to say (thanks One Mile At A Time):
“It took seven years for them to come and do the audit and you don’t blame them. Now we have got the approval. The next thing is slot and they are telling us to go to Stansted or take Gatwick. I’m not going to Stansted or Gatwick. You come to the primary airport in Nigeria and by BASA, you enjoy the two primary airports. So, you will give me your own primary airport. It must be Heathrow or nothing. We waited seven years and we must be there.”
Goodness. This is the same airline that panned the UAE aviation authority for being “unreasonable” for only granting Air Peace one out of their requested three slots to Sharjah, when they allowed Emirates to fly to Lagos. Emirates returned to Lagos in 2024, and is still operating the route, despite the current situation in the Middle East.
Air Peace demanded the UK Civil Aviation Authority to grant access to Heathrow, instead of “non-primary” Gatwick (pictured)
It seems like Air Peace eventually got their way. While Heathrow to Lagos is still run by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, Air Peace now operates three times weekly between London Heathrow and Abuja, operating out of Heathrow’s Terminal 3. For the record, the airline uses the No1 lounge at Heathrow’s Terminal 3, which I haven’t been to before.
Conclusion
Air Peace operates retired 777s from Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Japan Airlines (ranging from previous generation to about six generations ago). While I’m sure this is an operational nightmare, it certainly is a dream for an avgeek, and I’d love to fly the airline someday. In addition, it’s amusing seeing the antics that the airline plays to secure slots at desirable airports such as Heathrow and Dubai.
Have you flown Air Peace before? How was your experience?
