SmartLynx Collapse Deepens Air Peace Disruptions as Fleet Returns Begin
The last week has brought fresh turbulence to Nigeria’s Air Peace, which continues its recovery from a wave of delays and cancellations caused by the abrupt withdrawal of wet-leased aircraft. These challenges have now been cast in a new light following revelations on November 12, 2025, that SmartLynx Airlines—the Latvian lessor at the heart of Air Peace’s troubles—has amassed debts exceeding €238 million owed to over 800 creditors. Major industry names such as Avia Solutions Group, Lufthansa Technik, and MTU Aero Engines are among those affected. SmartLynx suspended all flight operations on November 2, 2025, compounding the cascading effects across client airlines around the globe, including Air Peace.
Air Peace’s Chief Commercial Officer, Nowel Ngala, detailed the recent turmoil at a press conference in Lagos. The grounding of SmartLynx’s fleet struck at a particularly vulnerable time for Air Peace, which was relying on the lessor’s aircraft while thirteen of its own jets underwent maintenance abroad. SmartLynx’s sudden pullout left Air Peace battling to maintain flight schedules, a situation made worse as the European lessor’s own financial crisis became public, exposing the fragility of cross-border leasing arrangements for African carriers.
According to Ngala, Air Peace had already transferred over \$5 million to SmartLynx—including more than \$1 million as security deposit—before the lessor’s withdrawal left the Nigerian airline with a critical capacity shortfall. The hasty exit triggered extensive disruptions, stranding passengers and forcing mass cancellations. Ngala described the scenario as a devastating blow, both financially and reputationally, with losses now estimated above \$15 million. He emphasized that the airline has since returned three of the affected aircraft to their owners and is actively seeking to recover its funds from SmartLynx, though the lessor’s deepening insolvency may complicate those efforts.
This latest episode has highlighted persistent risks for African airlines operating in the global leasing marketplace. Ngala referenced previous incidents, such as Air Peace’s experience with Tunisia’s Syphax Airlines, which allegedly accepted more than \$2 million for an aircraft maintenance contract and failed to return the aircraft. The exposure of SmartLynx’s vast debts and operational collapse reinforces how vulnerabilities in the international leasing chain can have swift and severe consequences for regional operators.
Despite these setbacks, Air Peace is pushing forward with its recovery plan. Two of its own aircraft have already rejoined the fleet after maintenance and more are expected to return in the coming days. The airline anticipates a full restoration of its network by next week, as it works to re-establish schedule reliability and reassure its customers. Ngala issued a formal apology for the disruptions, underlining the company’s commitment to service quality and accountability.
The SmartLynx collapse has also exposed the broader structural weaknesses facing Africa’s aviation sector. Many carriers across the continent depend on wet-leased aircraft from foreign lessors to bridge capacity gaps during maintenance or fleet renewal cycles. However, the financial instability of lessors—now dramatically illustrated by SmartLynx’s €238 million debt pile and the suspension of its own operations—creates grave risk for airlines that lack alternative options or strong legal protections. The situation is a stark call for African aviation stakeholders to rethink their reliance on volatile overseas partners and to develop more robust, self-reliant strategies for fleet management.
Industry experts now urge greater scrutiny of lessor financial health, tighter contractual safeguards, and enhanced regulatory oversight as essential steps for protecting African carriers from similar future shocks. The ordeal also underscores the need for stronger regional cooperation and investment in local maintenance and leasing infrastructure, which could help insulate airlines from the ripple effects of international insolvencies.
As Air Peace accelerates its recovery, its experience serves as a powerful case study for the continent’s aviation professionals. The airline’s transparent communication, rapid deployment of contingency plans, and public commitment to pursue redress have set a modern standard for crisis management within the sector. For airlines across Africa, the lessons are clear: diversified supplier relationships, proactive risk assessment, and investment in domestic aviation capabilities are vital to withstanding external shocks and ensuring long-term resilience.
With full operations set to resume and more aircraft expected back in service, Air Peace is working to restore confidence among its partners and passengers. The larger African aviation community will be keenly watching as the situation unfolds, recognizing that the sector’s future growth will depend not only on expanding capacity and routes, but also on building the institutional strength to navigate an increasingly unpredictable global marketplace.
