Air Peace, Nigeria’s flagship airline, is set to launch flight operations to London Heathrow Airport, marking a significant breakthrough in Nigeria–UK aviation relations following prolonged diplomatic negotiations.
Okay.ng reports that Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, made the announcement on Saturday via his official X page, confirming that the federal government had secured the coveted Heathrow Airport slot for the local carrier under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with the United Kingdom.
“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,” Keyamo wrote.
The development comes just months after Air Peace began direct flights between Lagos and Gatwick Airport in London on March 30, 2024, a move that signaled the airline’s ambition to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation presence on international routes.
While the minister did not disclose a start date for operations into Heathrow, the move is expected to boost Nigeria’s access to Europe’s busiest airport, improve flight options for Nigerian travellers, and promote fair competition under the open skies framework.
