One of Nigeria’s airlines Air Peace is set to commence direct flight operations to London Heathrow Airport from Abuja on October 26, 2025.
This followed sustained diplomatic efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria to enforce reciprocity in international air travel agreements.
This was disclosed by Tunde Moshood, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in a statement on Sunday.
He said the breakthrough came in the wake of a strongly worded letter dated August 1, 2024, written by Keyamo to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh.
In the correspondence, the minister demanded the immediate allocation of landing slots at Heathrow for Air Peace or risk reciprocal action, including a potential review of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic’s access to Lagos and Abuja airports.
Moshood added that the minister reiterated that Nigeria was only asserting its rights under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between both nations, which guarantees reciprocal access and fair treatment for designated flag carriers.
After months of negotiations and firm diplomatic engagement, the UK authorities acceded to Nigeria’s demand, granting Air Peace the long-awaited Heathrow slot.
“This is not just a win for Air Peace, but a significant diplomatic milestone for Nigeria. It sends a clear message that we are serious about enforcing the terms of our bilateral agreements and protecting the commercial interests of our indigenous carriers,” said Keyamo.
Air Peace had earlier launched its inaugural direct flight from Lagos to London Gatwick Airport in March 2024, marking its entry into the highly competitive UK aviation market. With the move to Heathrow—one of the world’s busiest and most prestigious airports—the airline is expected to significantly expand its international footprint and provide Nigerian travellers with greater convenience and connectivity.
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