BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
After what many described as a protracted aero-politics, Air Peace has eventually secured the highly sought-after landing slots at London’s Heathrow Airport.
The feat, which is also a major breakthrough for Nigerian aviation, flaunts the growing confidence in the airline’s safety, financial strength and international reputation.
Air Peace Chairman, Dr. Allen Onyema, revealed the milestone during a media briefing at the carrier’s Lagos headquarters on Wednesday, where he described the development as “a testament to Nigeria’s resilience” and Air Peace’s credibility on the global stage.
Starting October 26, the airline will commence flights 3 times a week from Abuja into Heathrow, while also operating services to London Gatwick 4 times a week from the Nigerian capital.
“This is no small achievement. The British authorities have granted Air Peace Heathrow slots, which demonstrates their belief in what we are doing.
“I must thank the British authorities, our President and the Aviation Minister for showcasing Nigeria to the world. This is a testament to our resilience”, he said.
The approval, granted by the UK’s Airport Coordination Limited (ACL), marks a major step forward in rebalancing air access between Nigerian and British carriers.
For years, the Nigerian government had raised concerns that while foreign airlines like British Airways enjoy full access to Nigeria’s major airports, Nigerian airlines often struggled to secure reciprocal slots at key international hubs such as Heathrow.
With Heathrow’s strict capacity limits, obtaining landing slots, which give airlines the right to operate flights at specific times, is notoriously difficult.
Slots can only be obtained through allocation or costly purchases on the secondary market, making Air Peace’s success a diplomatic and operational win.
Onyema praised Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, for playing a strategic role in helping secure the much-coveted slot.
The Heathrow deal follows the airline’s successful reactivation of the UK-Nigeria Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), with Air Peace launching Lagos-to-Gatwick flights in March 2024 after a six-year hiatus.
Now, Onyema said, the airline is preparing for even wider international expansion, with plans to launch new routes to the Caribbean, China, and India in the coming months.
“We are connecting Nigerians in the Diaspora. A few months ago, we flew to St. Kitts, and we transported over 200 passengers to Jamaica. By September, we will start new routes into Caribbean nations, as well as China and India,” Onyema noted.
To support this growing network, Air Peace’s fleet now stands at 49 aircraft, with 36 fully owned and four on wet lease. The airline is also actively pursuing new wide-body aircraft acquisitions to boost capacity for long-haul routes.
“We have increased our Boeing 777 fleet to four in preparation for our China operations. We are also discussing new wide-body acquisitions under wet lease arrangements,” Onyema confirmed.
The Air Peace boss stressed that Air Peace’s reputation for safety and operational excellence has been key to building trust with global regulators and financial partners.
“European countries will never permit an airline into their airspace without a strong safety record. Our ongoing partnership with Israeli Aerospace Industries and our original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) ensures our maintenance standards remain top-notch,” he said.
The airline’s growing financial credibility has also boosted investor and banking sector confidence.
“Our financial integrity is a key driver of our expansion,” Onyema emphasized.
“That’s why all Nigerian banks now want to work with us. Fidelity Bank recently celebrated us — they know that we treat borrowed money as other people’s money, and that we remain prudent. Banks no longer need to look over their shoulders when dealing with us.”
With international regulators, financial partners and global passengers increasingly recognising Air Peace’s operational maturity, the airline is positioning itself as a strong Nigerian contender on the world aviation stage.
According to Onyema, the breakthrough at Heathrow is not just about winning a coveted slot, but about changing global perceptions and asserting Nigeria’s place in the skies.
