Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced that Air Peace will commence direct service to London Heathrow Airport from Abuja starting October 26.
The announcement was made in Abuja on Sunday through a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood.
Keyamo attributed this development to persistent diplomatic efforts by the Federal Government aimed at ensuring equal treatment in international aviation agreements.
The minister explained that the breakthrough followed assertive correspondence sent by his ministry on August 1, 2024, to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh.
The official communication requested the immediate allocation of a Heathrow slot for Air Peace and warned of potential reciprocal measures. These could have included restricting operational access for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic at the Lagos and Abuja airports.
Keyamo stated that Nigeria was exercising its legitimate rights under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between both countries, which guarantees mutual access and equitable treatment for designated national carriers.
Following extensive negotiations and determined diplomatic engagement, UK authorities approved Nigeria’s request, granting Air Peace the coveted Heathrow slot.
“This is not just a win for Air Peace, but a significant diplomatic milestone for Nigeria. It sends a clear message that we are serious about enforcing the terms of our bilateral agreements and protecting the commercial interests of our indigenous carriers,” the minister said.
Keyamo noted that this achievement aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises the creation of favourable conditions for Nigerian enterprises to thrive internationally.
Air Peace previously launched direct service from Lagos to London Gatwick Airport in March 2024, marking its entry into the competitive UK aviation sector.
The transition to Heathrow—one of the world’s most prominent and busiest aviation hubs—is expected to significantly enhance the airline’s international presence while improving travel options and connectivity for Nigerian passengers.
“This development marks a new chapter in Nigeria–UK aviation relations and sets a precedent for stronger enforcement of bilateral agreements in favour of national carriers,” Keyamo added.
