The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), has announced that Air Peace will launch direct flights to London Heathrow Airport from Abuja on October 26.
The minister made the announcement in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr Tunde Moshood, in Abuja on Sunday.
According to him, this landmark achievement follows sustained diplomatic efforts by the Federal Government to enforce reciprocity in international air travel agreements.
The minister said the breakthrough resulted from a letter sent by the ministry to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Rt. Hon. Louise Haigh, dated August 1, 2024.
In the correspondence, Keyamo demanded the immediate allocation of landing slots at Heathrow for Air Peace, warning of potential reciprocal action if this was not granted.
He specified that such action could include a review of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic’s access to Lagos and Abuja airports.
Keyamo reiterated that Nigeria was simply asserting its rights under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two nations, which guarantees reciprocal access and fair treatment for designated flag carriers.
He said after months of negotiations and firm diplomatic engagement, the UK authorities acceded to Nigeria’s demand, granting Air Peace the long-awaited 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 further said that the move aligned with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places high priority on creating an enabling environment for Nigerian businesses to thrive globally.
He added that Air Peace had earlier launched its inaugural direct flight from Lagos to London Gatwick Airport in March 2024, marking its entry into the highly competitive UK aviation market.
According to him, with the move to Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest and most prestigious airports, the airline is expected to significantly expand its international footprint and provide Nigerian travellers with greater convenience and connectivity.
He also said: “This development marks a new chapter in Nigeria-UK aviation relations and sets a precedent for stronger enforcement of bilateral agreements to benefit national carriers.”
