The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo, announced on Thursday that local airline operator Air Peace is set to begin its Abuja-London flight service.
Barr. Keyamo said this in a live TV interview, revealing that he had granted Air Peace authorization to include Abuja on its London flight route.
“Just yesterday (Wednesday), I approved Air Peace for the Abuja-London route, not only the Lagos-London route. British Airways also comes to Abuja. So, let Air Peace block that path and start a war. It’s all for the good of Nigerians,” he said.
While Keyamo acknowledged that Gatwick Airport is merely a starting point and a low-hanging fruit, he claimed that Heathrow Airport should be the destination for Air Peace and all other interested local airlines.
The unequal Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Kingdom was reciprocated on March 30, 2024, when Air Peace launched direct flights from Lagos to London’s Gatwick Airport.
Many observers in the industry have applauded the development, saying that it will inspire other local airlines to start operating foreign flights on lucrative routes. The cost of an international ticket on the Lagos-London route had risen to N3.5 million, but with Air Peace charging N1.2 million for a return economy class ticket, international carriers like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Qatar Airways were forced to cut down their prices to fight the competition.
Foreign airlines are now underpricing to stay in business since Air Peace’s entry into the London market. Commenting on this, Keyamo stated that the federal government has been monitoring the developments and will use all its resources to support Air Peace.
