The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced that Air Peace will commence direct flights from Abuja to London Heathrow Airport on October 26.
Keyamo disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr Tunde Moshood.
He explained that the milestone resulted from the Nigerian Government’s sustained diplomatic efforts to enforce reciprocity in international air travel agreements.
According to Keyamo, the breakthrough followed a letter from the ministry, dated August 1, 2024, addressed to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Louise Haigh, in which he demanded immediate allocation of landing slots at Heathrow for Air Peace or risk reciprocal measures.
He noted that those measures could have included reviewing British Airways and Virgin Atlantic’s access to Lagos and Abuja airports.
“We simply insisted on Nigeria’s rights under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement with the UK, which guarantees fair treatment and reciprocal access for both nations’ designated carriers,” Keyamo said.
Following months of firm negotiations and diplomatic engagement, the UK authorities granted Air Peace the much-anticipated slot at Heathrow.
“This is not just a victory for Air Peace, but a major diplomatic achievement for Nigeria. It clearly demonstrates our commitment to enforcing bilateral agreements and protecting our local carriers,” he added.
Keyamo emphasised that the development aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises global competitiveness for Nigerian businesses.
He recalled that Air Peace began direct flights from Lagos to London Gatwick in March 2024, marking its entry into the UK aviation market.
With the move to Heathrow—one of the world’s busiest and most prestigious airports—Air Peace is set to broaden its international presence and offer Nigerian travellers improved convenience and connectivity.
“This marks a new phase in Nigeria–UK aviation ties and sets a precedent for stronger enforcement of bilateral air agreements,” Keyamo concluded.
