UK aviation authorities agree to discuss granting Air Peace landing rights at Heathrow

BRITAIN has responded to Nigeria's request that Air peace by granted a landing slot at Heathrow Airport saying that it is willing to sit down and discuss the matter at the International Civil Aviation summit which starts today..

Last month, Festus Keyamo, Nigeria's aviation minister, wrote to the British authorities, requesting that the carrier, which was granted a landing slot at Gatwick Airport earlier this year, be given one at Heathrow, Britain's busiest airport. Exasperated by the fact that the only Nigerian airline flying into the UK was denied access to Heathrow, Mr Keyamo had threatened to deny UK carriers slots at Lagos and Abuja airports if his request was not met.

Officially responding to the request, Louise Haigh, the UK's secretary of state for transport, expressed a willingness to discuss the matter further at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) negotiations, which kicks off in Kuala Lumpur, Nigeria, today. Both the UK and Nigeria are participants at the 16th sixteenth ICAO Air Services Negotiation event hosted by Malaysia's ministry of transport between October 21 and 25.

Air Peace has been pushing for Heathrow slots since securing its UK third country operator authorisation and earlier this year and history was made on Saturday, March 30, when the airline made its inaugural flight from Lagos to London, touching down at Gatwick Airport. However, Air Peace chairman, Allen Onyema, emphasised the importance of reciprocity in the bilateral air services agreement between Nigeria and the UK, stating that Nigerian carriers should have access to Heathrow, just as UK carriers operate in Nigeria's primary airports.

Way back in 2011, Nigeria threatened to withdraw permission for British airlines to land in Lagos and Abuja after Arik Air was unable to secure Heathrow slots. This issue was eventually resolved but Air Peace now faces a similar challenge and the upcoming negotiations will be crucial in resolving these issues.

Air Peace is currently the only Nigerian airline certified to operate in the UK, and securing Heathrow slots would be a significant milestone. All eyes are now on the UK and Nigerian authorities to find a mutually beneficial solution, ensuring fair competition and cooperation between the two nations' aviation industries.