November 27, (THEWILL) — As Air Peace marks over 20 months on the London route, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging international aeropolitics to ensure indigenous airlines sustain their gains while expanding routes and delivering world-class services.
The assurance was given on Wednesday by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during the SAPTCO Communication Limited Inaugural Lecture held in Lagos.
Keyamo was represented by the Director of Special Duties at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Obiageli Orah.
The Minister said the sustainability of domestic airlines has been a priority for the administration since its inception.
“The Federal Government has engaged countries worldwide to maximize bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) in favor of our indigenous airlines,” he said, noting that the lecture’s theme, “International Aeropolitics: The Survival of Nigerian Carriers on the London Route,” is one close to his heart.
“We have also continued to implement policies and create an enabling environment for airlines to thrive.
“Our efforts to support domestic airlines also led us to aircraft manufacturers and lessors, such as Boeing, to advance a collaborative narrative for our people. The goal was to reconnect domestic airlines with international partners and expand their capacity,” Keyamo added.
At the lecture, Air Peace Chairman/CEO, Dr. Allen Onyema, highlighted the significance of the Nigeria–UK route, describing it as the country’s highest-traffic corridor, with annual passenger traffic exceeding 450,000 travelers.
Represented by Air Peace’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Nowel Ngala, Onyema explained that foreign carriers such as British Airways have operated the route for over 90 years, with others like Virgin Atlantic entering later with direct flights.
“Today, three carriers provide direct services between Lagos and the UK’s Gatwick and Heathrow airports, while other international airlines transport 29% of Nigerian passengers via their respective hubs in Doha, Istanbul, Paris, and Addis Ababa,” he said.
Onyema noted that it has been one year and eight months since Air Peace launched direct Lagos–Gatwick flights in March 2024, with steady growth prompting the airline to introduce additional Abuja–Heathrow flights in October 2025.
He said the airline now operates daily Lagos–Gatwick services, alongside three weekly Abuja–Heathrow flights on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, as well as Abuja–Gatwick flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
He thanked the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Minister of Aviation, and the government for supporting the presence of a Nigerian carrier on the London route.
“We also thank the traveling public for their patronage and trust in choosing Air Peace for their journeys to London,” Onyema added.
The airline CEO further urged the government to support the establishment of full transit hubs at Lagos and Abuja airports, enabling passengers to transfer seamlessly without collecting and rechecking luggage.
“This will help Air Peace and other Nigerian carriers expand their network, attract more regional traffic into Nigeria, and strengthen our safe freedom strategy instead of allowing these passengers to rely on foreign carriers,” he said.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
