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By Tracy Moses
The Air Peace inaugural non-stop flight on Sunday morning departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for London Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom, a milestone for Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The departure was witnessed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, alongside a distinguished entourage of dignitaries and passengers.
The flight is expected to land in London later on Sunday evening, marking the first time a Nigerian carrier has operated the direct Abuja–Heathrow connection.
The launch of the direct service by Air Peace did not happen overnight. The airline, founded in 2014 by Allen Onyema, has grown to become one of Nigeria’s leading carriers and, in recent years, has expanded into international markets.
Recall that in March 2024, the airline entered the UK market by starting direct flights from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Lagos) to London Gatwick Airport, a major shift in Nigeria–UK aviation for indigenous carriers.
However, landing slots at Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest and most prestigious airports, had long remained out of reach for Nigerian operators due to structural limitations and the long-standing dominance of foreign carriers. The Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK provides for reciprocal access for designated flag carriers.
In pursuit of this, Minister Keyamo wrote on August 1, 2024, to his UK counterpart, emphasizing the need for Nigerian airlines to obtain Heathrow slots or risk reciprocal review of UK airlines’ access to Nigerian airports.
Following months of negotiation, the UK aviation authorities acceded to Nigeria’s demand, and consequently, Air Peace secured a slot at Heathrow.
A statement by Mr. Tunde Moshood, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, noted that the Minister had been instrumental in securing the enforceable reciprocity of air-service rights under the BASA between Nigeria and the UK. The statement recalled that, in his August 1, 2024 letter to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, Minister Keyamo demanded that a Nigerian airline be granted not only landing rights at London Gatwick but also the coveted Heathrow slot, a privilege long held exclusively by foreign carriers.
At the boarding area, Chief Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, praised the Minister’s decisive action:
“I remember when Customs introduced a 4% FOB charge for our imports as aviation operators. We took it to the Honourable Minister, and he intervened immediately. He raised the matter with the Finance Minister and Customs. Within one week, the 4% FOB was removed for Nigerian airlines. And you tell me why I will not support or applaud this government.”
He added, “When the government listens to the aspirations, complaints, and challenges of the people, this is what we need. It is not just about Air Peace. Unless every airline in this country speaks up for what this regime has done for them.”
Minister Keyamo, speaking at the send-off, said the success of today’s flight stems from the clear national mandate from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that local carriers be supported to thrive and survive. “With that mandate in our right hand, we went to work,” he affirmed. “We dug deep to uncover the challenges local operators have faced over the years. The mortality rate in our aviation sector for more than 40 years has been extremely high, over 100 airlines have come and gone: Concord, Belview, Sosoliso, Chanchangi, name them. So we had a clear mandate to support the growth, sustainability, and competitiveness of our indigenous operators.”
He emphasized the importance of the private sector:
“If you destroy the private sector in your country, you destroy the country. Every good economy thrives on the wealth and well-being of the private sector, the greatest employer of labour and the engine of growth. We have done all we can within our powers to give our local operators the muscle and leverage for fair competition. International airlines have been coming to Nigeria for nearly 90 years on some routes, lifting passengers back and forth without our operators fully participating. Under our BASAs, we had rights too, but no capacity, no access, no slot at Heathrow. Today, that changes.”