By Olatunbosun Obafemi
After years of lobbying and months of intense negotiations, Nigeria’s flagship carrier, Air Peace, has secured coveted slots at London-Heathrow Airport, enabling it to launch direct flights from Abuja beginning October 26, 2025.
The new four-times-weekly service will be operated using the airline’s fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft, complementing its existing Lagos-Gatwick service launched in March 2024.
The development marks a significant milestone in Air Peace’s international ambitions. The airline has long decried what it described as preferential treatment for UK-based carriers like British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, who enjoy longstanding access to Heathrow. Although previous slot applications were denied due to capacity constraints, Air Peace has finally acquired the necessary slot pairs for its winter 2025–26 schedule.
Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema praised the support of President Bola Tinubu and Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, calling the achievement a testament to national progress. The airline also confirmed upcoming routes to China and the Caribbean.
