Air Peace Secures Heathrow Slot After Prolonged Nigeria–UK Diplomatic Talks

The Federal Government has successfully obtained a landing slot at Heathrow Airport in London for Nigerian carrier Air Peace. This follows extensive diplomatic negotiations under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

The news was announced on Saturday by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, through his verified X (formerly Twitter) account. He described the breakthrough as a major diplomatic achievement that affirms Nigeria’s commitment to equitable treatment of its indigenous airlines on global routes.

Keyamo noted that the development is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasizes support for local businesses while ensuring compliance with international standards.

“After many months of consistent diplomatic engagement and firm insistence on our reciprocal rights under the BASA framework, Nigeria has finally secured the coveted Heathrow slot for Air Peace,” Keyamo stated.

Air Peace first launched its Lagos–London route on March 30, 2024, via Gatwick Airport, offering significantly lower fares than those of foreign competitors. Economy tickets started at around N1.2 million, compared to N3–5 million on other airlines. Business class fares also saw a substantial cut, beginning at N4.5 million.

However, the airline reportedly faced strong opposition from international carriers who reacted by drastically reducing their own fares without adjusting for exchange rate fluctuations—a move Air Peace’s CEO Allen Onyema claimed was aimed at pushing the airline out of the market.

Despite these challenges, Air Peace expanded its domestic connectivity, enabling passengers from Abuja, Enugu, Asaba, Benin, Owerri, Warri, and Port Harcourt to link seamlessly with the Lagos–London route. In December 2024, the airline began flying out of Chinua Achebe International Airport in Umueri, Anambra State, offering southeastern travelers direct access to international flights.

Gaining access to Heathrow, one of the busiest and most prestigious airports in the world, significantly enhances Air Peace’s global profile. It also gives Nigerian travelers a more competitive and accessible international flight option directly from a premium location.

The development marks a victory for Nigeria’s aviation diplomacy and sets a new precedent for the assertiveness of its aviation policy in protecting domestic carriers’ interests abroad.