Air Peace granted permission to start flying to London from Abuja by Nigeria's aviation ministry

AVIATION minister Festus Keyamo has revealed that Air Peace has been granted approval to commence flights between Abuja and London in what will be a significant extension of its presence in the Nigeria-UK market.

On March 30, Air Peace successfully made its maiden Lagos to London flight when a Boeing 777 landed at Gatwick Airport and was received by a team of diaporans led by the acting high commissioner Ambassador Cyprian Heen. Now, the airline is looking to extend its grip on the Nigeria-UK market by also flying to Abuja in a move that is certain to create shockwaves across the sector.

This expansion comes as part of the airline’s strategic growth plans and signals a positive step forward in enhancing international connectivity. During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Mr Keyamo said: “I have given the approval for Air Peace to add Abuja to its London route.”

Air Peace’s successful launch of Lagos-Gatwick flights received commendation from passengers, who praised the airline’s commitment to providing reliable and convenient travel options. More importantly, the presence of Air Peace in the market forced other airlines to slash their prices from the exorbitant fares they were previously charging.

Allen Onyema, the Air Peace chairman, has been actively advocating for the advancement of Nigeria’s aviation industry and has constantly raised concerns about pricing dynamics and collusion among foreign airlines that has affected fare structures in the market. It is believed that with Air Peace now flying to Abuja, the development will open up opportunities for tourism, business and cultural exchanges between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Mr Onyema has said that with Air Peace expanding its operations, travellers can look forward to enhanced connectivity, improved travel experiences and increased options for international flights. Mr Keyamo added that the airline's continued efforts to broaden its network align with the government’s vision of positioning Nigeria as a hub for air travel in the West African region.

It now remains fir the UK aviation authorities to grant Air Peace landing rights for flights from Abuja. When they finally do, market watchers will be keeping an eye on what airport the airline will allowed to fly to and from, with one out of Heathrow or Gatwick likely to be the destination.