Air Peace Airline has officially launched its direct flight service from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja to London Heathrow Airport.
On Sunday, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, led passengers and dignitaries on the airline’s maiden direct flight from Abuja Airport.
The flight, which departed in the morning, is expected to land in London by evening.
In a letter dated August 1, 2024, addressed to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, Keyamo had requested that a Nigerian airline be granted landing rights at both Gatwick and Heathrow airports.
According to a statement issued by his media aide, Tunde Moshood, the minister explained that the launch of the flight was based on President Bola Tinubu’s directive that local airlines should be supported to grow and compete effectively.
He stated, “With that mandate in our right hand, we went to work. We dug deep to discover the problems of local operators over the years.
“The mortality rate in our aviation sector for more than 40 years has been very high; over 100 airlines have come and gone. Concord, Belview, Sosoliso, Chanchangi – name them. So we had a clear mandate to ensure that we support the growth, sustenance and competitiveness of our local operators.
“If you destroy the private sector in your country, you destroy the country. Every good economy thrives on the wealth and well-being of the private sector because they are the greatest employer of labour and engine of growth.
“We have done all we can within our powers to give our local operators the muscle and leverage for fair competition. International airlines have been coming to Nigeria for nearly 90 years on some routes, lifting passengers back and forth without our operators fully participating. Under our Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), we have rights too, but no capacity, no access, and no slot at Heathrow. Today, that changes.”
The Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyeama, commended the minister for his proactive efforts.
He said, “I could remember when the Customs brought in a 4% FOB charge for our imports; as aviation operators, we went to the minister, and he stepped into it immediately.
“He took the matter to the Finance Minister and to Customs, and within one week, the 4% FOB was removed for Nigerian airlines. So, tell me why I will not support or applaud this government.
“This government has proven that it listens to the yearnings and aspirations of the people and the complaints and challenges of the people, and that is what we need. When Nigerian helicopter-airline owners cried to the minister about a certain charge, he removed it on the spot to make life very easy for these airlines. So it’s not just about Air Peace.”
