After months of diplomatic tension and delay, Air Peace—Nigeria’s largest carrier—has officially received approval from UK aviation authorities to operate direct flights to London Heathrow, the UK’s most prestigious airport. The airline will commence daily flights from Abuja to Heathrow starting October 26, 2025.
This announcement marks a significant breakthrough following a long standoff between Nigerian and UK authorities over equal rights for designated national carriers under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).
🔙 Backstory: From Gatwick to Heathrow
Air Peace began UK operations in March 2024, flying to London Gatwick due to repeated denials of access to Heathrow. Despite holding the status of Nigeria’s flag carrier, Air Peace was denied Heathrow slots—sparking public and governmental concern in Nigeria.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, intervened strongly, threatening reciprocal action by limiting British Airways and Virgin Atlantic access to Nigeria’s key airports (MMIA Lagos and NAIA Abuja) if Air Peace continued to be sidelined.
The UK’s Department for Transport cited late slot application submissions as the reason for earlier rejections. However, following renewed engagement, slots have now been granted.
✈️ Daily Abuja–Heathrow Flights Begin October 26
Confirming the approval, Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema, announced that daily flights from Abuja to Heathrow will launch on October 26, 2025.
“The British Authorities have granted Air Peace Heathrow. We thank the British Authorities and Minister Festus Keyamo. It is going to be a daily flight out of Abuja,” Onyema stated.
🌍 New Routes and Fleet Expansion
Onyema also revealed that the airline will begin direct flights to Antigua and Barbuda in September 2025, further deepening Air Peace’s international footprint.
To support its expansion, Air Peace will take delivery of another Boeing 777, increasing its wide-body fleet to four aircraft.
📈 Operational Excellence and New Customer Service Model
Despite criticism in some quarters about flight delays, Onyema highlighted that Air Peace has achieved over 85% on-time performance (OTP) since May 2025.
He attributed 95% of delays to external, industry-wide factors like airport congestion, weather, and regulatory hurdles—not airline inefficiency. Onyema also criticized unruly passenger behavior, urging greater cooperation from the flying public.
Notably, the airline is preparing to launch an innovative customer service concept “never seen before anywhere in the world,” expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
🛫 Final Thoughts
Air Peace’s entry into Heathrow is a milestone moment for Nigeria’s aviation sector, reaffirming its growing international presence and strengthening the country’s aviation diplomacy. With more global routes, increased capacity, and service innovation underway, Air Peace is positioning itself as a continental aviation powerhouse.