The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has issued a formal complaint to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, warning that if Air Peace is not granted a slot at London Heathrow Airport, Nigeria may retaliate by denying British Airways and Virgin Atlantic access to slots at Lagos and Abuja airports.
In his letter, Keyamo expressed strong dissatisfaction with the ongoing denial of Air Peace’s request for a Heathrow slot since it began operations in March 2024.
He highlighted that both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have been operating in Nigerian airports without any hindrance, yet Nigerian carriers are not receiving the same treatment.
Keyamo emphasized the importance of reciprocity, stating, “It is essential for Nigerian designated carriers to enjoy the same privileges that British carriers are currently enjoying. It is deeply unfair for the British authorities to consistently create obstacles for Nigerian airlines, especially given the goodwill extended by Nigeria and its people.”
He further criticized the requirement for Air Peace to seek approval from a slot committee for access to Heathrow, questioning the fairness of this process.
Keyamo underscored the need to support Nigerian airlines in their growth and enable them to participate equally in international agreements, pointing out that while foreign airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa, and Delta operate freely in Nigeria, no Nigerian airline currently flies to Paris, Frankfurt or the United States.
