Abuja: The Air Peace Ltd has commenced a direct flight service from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to London Heathrow Airport. This development was announced in a statement by Mr. Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, led the inaugural flight with distinguished passengers on board. The flight took off on Sunday, October 26, 2025, and was expected to arrive in London the same evening, marking a significant milestone for Nigeria’s aviation industry. The minister has been instrumental in securing air-service rights under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, advocating for a Nigerian carrier to receive landing rights at London Gatwick and Heathrow.
Mr. Allen Onyeama, Chairman of Air Peace, commended the minister’s intervention at the boarding, highlighting the government’s efforts to support local airlines. Onyeama recalled the minister’s assistance in removing a four percent FOB charge for imports, a decision that benefited Nigerian airlines. He praised the government’s responsiveness to the industry’s challenges and emphasized the importance of supporting local carriers.
Minister Keyamo reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening local airlines, citing a mandate from President Bola Tinubu to support domestic carriers. He noted the high mortality rate in Nigeria’s aviation sector and stressed the importance of sustaining local operators. The minister highlighted the need for a robust private sector, which he described as the greatest employer of labor and engine of growth.
Keyamo emphasized the government’s efforts to provide local operators with the capacity to compete fairly in international markets. He remarked on the longstanding presence of international airlines in Nigeria and the newfound access to Heathrow for Nigerian carriers, signaling a new era of participation in global aviation.
