By John Moses
Nigeria’s national carrier, Air Peace, will begin direct flights from Abuja to London Heathrow Airport starting 26 October 2025, in what government officials are calling a landmark achievement in diplomatic aviation efforts.
The announcement was made on Sunday by Mr Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, in a statement issued by his media adviser, Tunde Moshood.
According to Keyamo, the move follows months of high-level diplomatic negotiations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom to enforce reciprocal rights under the existing Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).
Keyamo revealed that on 1 August 2024, his ministry had written a firm letter to the UK’s Secretary of State for Transport, Rt. Hon. Louise Haigh, demanding landing slots at Heathrow for Air Peace. The letter warned that failure to comply would trigger reciprocal action, including a review of British carriers’ access to Nigerian airports.
“After months of discussions, the UK government granted Air Peace landing rights at Heathrow, a development that affirms Nigeria’s standing on the global aviation stage,” Keyamo said.
He described the move as a diplomatic victory, not just for Air Peace, but for the Nigerian aviation sector. “It demonstrates that we are committed to defending the rights of our national carriers,” he added.
Air Peace had already launched its maiden Lagos–London Gatwick route in March 2024. The shift to Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest international airports, is seen as a major upgrade, offering improved connectivity for Nigerian passengers and increasing the airline’s global footprint.
Keyamo emphasised that the development aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at supporting indigenous enterprises and expanding Nigeria’s global trade and transport links.
“This milestone sets a precedent in the enforcement of bilateral aviation agreements and represents a new era in Nigeria–UK aviation relations,” he said.
