British authorities have denied Air Peace, a Nigerian airline, the opportunity to operate flights to Heathrow Airport. In response, Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, has formally complained to the British government. Air Peace currently serves Gatwick Airport due to the slot system constraints, despite repeated efforts to secure a slot at Heathrow, which is closer to central London and more advantageous for passengers.
Keyamo’s letter to the UK’s Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, warns that if Air Peace is not granted access to Heathrow, Nigeria may retaliate by restricting British Airways and Virgin Atlantic’s access to Lagos and Abuja airports. The Minister emphasized that this issue extends beyond Air Peace and impacts all Nigerian airlines, potentially affecting the country’s economy.
At a recent seminar organized by the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos, Keyamo stressed that Nigeria will no longer tolerate restrictions that prevent its airlines from accessing primary airports abroad, in accordance with the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA). He further stated that failure to address Air Peace’s request could result in Nigerian measures that might redirect British carriers to less favorable Nigerian airports.
