BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Nigeria’s flag carrier, Air Peace, has commenced direct flights from Abuja to London’s Heathrow Airport after successfully securing landing slot.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced this today via his X account that the success was achieved following several months of diplomatic negotiations with the United Kingdom.
He said “After several months of diplomatic exchanges with my British counterpart, we finally secured the much-coveted Heathrow Airport slot for one of our flag carriers, Air Peace.
“Yesterday, we launched the maiden flight from Abuja to Heathrow with all the accompanying fanfare, both in Abuja and upon arrival at Heathrow,” he said.
He reaffirming the Government’s support for indigenous carriers under the bilateral air services agreement.
He said the connecting capital of the whole of Europe” now lies within reach of Nigerian travellers, reflecting Nigeria’s firm stance on reciprocity and fair access.
Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Keyamo, and other stakeholders for enabling the achievement, describing it as a landmark for Nigerian private-sector participation in global aviation.
Onyema added that the new Heathrow route would enhance connectivity for Nigerian travellers, granting them direct access not only to the United Kingdom but also to onward destinations across Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean.
He emphasised that Air Peace’s success was “a testament to local investment, resilience, and the capacity of Nigerian enterprises to compete globally,” urging continued government support for indigenous airlines to strengthen the nation’s aviation footprint.
