KEY POINTS
- Air Peace launches Abuja-London Heathrow and Gatwick routes.
- Tinubu administration helped secure Heathrow slots for the airline.
- Expansion cements Air Peace’s dominance in West African aviation.
Nigeria’s flagship airline, Air Peace, will begin direct flights from Abuja to London Heathrow and London Gatwick on October 26, 2025, expanding its footprint in one of the world’s most competitive air corridors.
The move comes just months after the carrier’s successful Lagos–London Gatwick service, positioning Air Peace as a serious contender in the transcontinental aviation market long dominated by foreign carriers.
Air Peace expands network with Abuja-London flights
The new Abuja–London routes will increase the airline’s UK destinations to three. Within 48 hours of the Heathrow launch, Air Peace will also begin Abuja–Gatwick flights, using its Boeing 777-200ER fleet to offer round-trip tickets starting at about ₦1 million far lower than competitors’ average fares.
Chairman and CEO Allen Onyema said the new services are part of a broader vision to strengthen Nigeria’s presence in global aviation. “We resolved to show the world that Nigeria is ready to be a big player,” Onyema said while receiving the airline’s newly acquired Boeing 777-200ER, registered as 5N-CEG.
The flights will connect Abuja directly to the UK while providing seamless onward connections to major Nigerian cities such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Kano, significantly improving access and lowering travel costs for passengers.
Air Peace strengthens dominance in West African skies
The Tinubu administration backed Air Peace’s expansion and helped the airline secure Heathrow slots, a feat that had long eluded many Nigerian carriers. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the British government played key roles in finalising the deal.
The carrier now boasts 38 aircraft serving 20 domestic and 10 regional and international destinations, making it West Africa’s largest airline. It also operates a diverse fleet that includes Boeing 737s, Embraer 190s, and the flagship Boeing 777s used on long-haul routes.
The airline’s ongoing projects further includes a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Lagos, expected to cut Nigeria’s $2.5 billion annual spend on foreign maintenance services and create new aviation jobs.
Onyema also revealed upcoming direct flights from Lagos to São Paulo and Antigua, part of Air Peace’s growing intercontinental ambitions.
