Abuja, June 23, 2025 – Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed that Air Peace will commence direct flights between Abuja and London Heathrow Airport from October 26, 2025, following the airline’s successful securing of landing slots under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).
Announcing the development on Saturday, Keyamo described it as a diplomatic and commercial victory for Nigeria. “After many months of diplomatic exchanges and insisting on our reciprocal rights, we are pleased to announce that Nigeria has finally secured the coveted Heathrow slot for one of our flag carriers,” he stated .
In support of the Ministry’s stance, Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema confirmed during the event that the airline plans to operate four weekly flights on its Abuja–Heathrow route, deploying Boeing 777 aircraft, coinciding with the IATA winter schedule .
The development follows a prolonged campaign by Air Peace, which previously operated from London Gatwick since March 2024 while negotiating for Heathrow access. The push was backed by both diplomatic effort from Nigeria and industry pressure, including Keyamo’s warnings to UK authorities over slot denial .
While Keyamo and Onyema affirmed the October 26 launch, the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK has solicited patience, noting that slot allocation depends on runway capacity and seasonal coordination timing .
In an accompanying statement, Keyamo highlighted the broader goal of strengthening local carriers’ competitiveness, saying the government would continue to support domestic airlines while holding them to stringent service standards as part of the “Renewed Hope Agenda” .
With Abuja–Heathrow soon in operation, analysts foresee more accessible travel for Nigerians, increased competition in the international aviation space, and a milestone achievement for Nigeria’s aviation diplomacy and bilateral aviation agreements.