After months of denial, the United Kingdom aviation authorities finally granted Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest carrier, approval to fly to Heathrow Airport.
Air Peace Chairman, Mr. Allen Onyema, who disclosed this said the airline has concluded plans to commence direct flight operations from Abuja to Heathrow with effect from October 26, 2025.
Daily Trust reports that there has been controversy over the refusal of the aviation authorities in the UK to grant Air Peace permit to fly to Heathrow, the number one and most prestigious airport in the UK.
Since it commenced operations in March 2024 to the UK, the airline has been flying to Gatwick, another popular airport in the UK.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo had threatened to restrict British Airways flights in Nigeria over the refusal of the aviation authorities in the UK to allow Air Peace, Nigeria’s flag carrier, operate to Heathrow.
The Minister argued that since the British carriers – British Airways and Virgin Atlantic – were given Nigeria’s primary airports – the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; the UK Government should also allow Air Peace to fly to Heathrow in line with the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA).
In a letter, the Minister decried the persistent denial of Air Peace a slot in Heathrow despite efforts made by the airline.
The United Kingdom had responded to the threat by the Minister to restrict its carriers out of Lagos and Abuja over its refusal to grant Air Peace slot in Heathrow.
The UK through its Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, explained that Air Peace was denied access to Heathrow Airport because it submitted its requests for slots too late for both the Summer 2024 and Winter 2024/2025 seasons.
In a letter dated September 5, 2024, addressed to Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, Haigh explained that Air Peace’s request was received after the Airports Coordination Limited, ACL, had already completed the slot coordination process for the summer season.
However the struggle appears to be over as the Air Peace Chairman confirmed receiving approval to fly to Heathrow.
Onyema while briefing newsmen on developments in the airline said, “The British Authorities have granted Air Peace Heathrow. We thank the British Authorities and the Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo.
“From October 26, we are going to start Abuja-Heathrow. It is going to be a daily flight out of Abuja.”
He also disclosed that by September the airline would commence direct flight operations to Antigua and Barbuda, adding that the airline would take a delivery of another Boeing 777 wide bodied aircraft to increase the fleet of 777s to four.
Onyema insisted that the airline is not synonymous to delays or cancellations contrary to the insinuation in some quarters, saying since May this year Air Peace has recorded over 85 per cent on time performance (OTP).
Onyema further disclosed plans to unveil a new customer service in the next few weeks, saying this has never been done anywhere in the world.
He reiterated that 95 per cent of causes of flight delays and cancellations were external factors which are not within the purview of the airline.
He berated the unruly behaviour of some passengers, saying the “uncooperative attitude of some passengers is not helpful.”
He said, “The way we are pushing Nigerian airlines about this issue of delay, as if it is synonymous with Nigeria. Delays are not synonymous with Nigerian airlines. I’ve stayed 11 and a half hours in America and nobody will talk to you. Nobody likes it. The passengers don’t like it. The airlines don’t like delays either.”
