Nigeria’s leading airline, Air Peace, is set to commence flights to London Heathrow Airport after several months of extensive diplomatic discussions between Nigeria and the UK.
In a statement shared on Saturday through his official X page, Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, announced, “My dear compatriots, after many months of diplomatic exchanges and shuttles, insisting on our reciprocal rights under our Bilateral Air Services Agreement, we are pleased to announce that Nigeria has finally secured the coveted Heathrow slot for one of our flag carriers, Air Peace.”
This comes after the Nigerian government strongly protested the ongoing refusal to grant Air Peace slots at Heathrow despite multiple requests, which included the airline’s commencement of its Lagos–London route via Gatwick Airport in March 2024.
In a letter dated August 1, 2024, addressed to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, Keyamo said that the situation was “extremely disheartening,” pointing out that Heathrow had consistently been the airline’s preferred airport due to its proximity to central London.
The situation intensified when the Nigerian government authorised a new Abuja–London route for Air Peace, prompting the airline to seek permission for access to Heathrow for its upcoming winter operations set to start in November 2024.
Following diplomatic discussions at the International Civil Aviation Negotiations (ICAN) forum in October 2024, the UK government consented to initiate dialogue. This has now resulted in the approval of an airline slot at Heathrow.
Although a specific start date has yet to be disclosed, this development represents a major growth in Air Peace’s international services and signifies a diplomatic achievement for Nigeria’s aviation industry.
