ACIA Aero Leasing, a provider of regional aircraft leasing and lease management services, completed a mandate to deliver a fleet of three ATR 72-600 aircraft to support the commercial launch of Green Africa, a new low-cost carrier in Nigeria.

Green Africa laid out a roadmap for its market entry by deploying ACIA Aero Leasing’s ATR aircraft to deliver low-cost, short-haul connectivity between Nigerian cities.

“We are thrilled to have partnered with Green Africa’s experienced local and international management team to get their airline off the ground while supporting their ambitious mission to spur regional economic development through increased connectivity,” Mick Mooney, CEO of ACIA Aero Leasing, said.

“Receiving our third aircraft today signifies Green Africa’s readiness to enter into service and start serving our customers,” Babawande Afolabi, founder and CEO of Green Africa, said. “ACIA Aero Leasing has been a very supportive partner and we are proud of this relationship.”

“ACIA’s portfolio has a significant African focus and Nigeria is a core target market, as we believe there will be significant growth,” Elze LeRoux, general manager for Africa at ACIA Aero Leasing, said. “Our ultimate goal is to be a significant part of our customers’ long-term success. The team’s knowledge of African operations and the challenges faced by operators have been key to getting these first aircraft delivered to Green Africa.”

Green Africa plans to deploy the ATRs primarily across Nigeria between now and December 2022, with plans for expansion into the broader African continent and the addition of two to three new airport bases in Nigeria over the next 12 to 18 months.

“Our commercial team continues to actively pursue opportunities to deliver financing options to our existing and potential customers, both within Africa and beyond,” Mooney said. “We can get deals done in environments from which other lessors might shy away, focusing on getting results for our customers and ensuring that the aircraft are delivered on time despite the challenges that the pandemic continues to pose.”