Air Peace to begin Lagos-London flights March 30 — weeks after Nigeria-UK talks

Air Peace, Nigeria’s flag carrier, says it will commence direct flight operations from Lagos to Gatwick Airport in London, from March 30, 2024.

Stanley Olisa, the airline’s spokesperson, confirmed the new international operation to TheCable on Tuesday.

The development comes nearly a month after Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace, engaged the United Kingdom (UK) government to actualise direct flights from Lagos to London.

The minister had held a meeting with the management of NORSE Atlantic Airways, led by Ben Boiling, its chief executive officer (CEO), in London in late January, 2024.

Keyamo had said he was speaking with UK transport officials on a partnership between NORSE Atlantic Airways and Air Peace.

“Are you ready for that bespoke flygerian experience in the skies? Our London launch is getting closer- March 30, 2024- marking a historic entry into the European continent,” Air Peace posted on its X handle on Tuesday.

Are you ready for that bespoke flygerian experience in the skies?

Our London launch is getting closer- March 30, 2024- marking a historic entry into the European continent. 🇬🇧💙 #betterdealwithairpeace #london pic.twitter.com/DqWVWTdEUo

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— Air Peace (@flyairpeace) February 20, 2024

Air Peace had secured a foreign carrier operator permit (FCOP) to fly into UK in November 2023. However, the airline has been unable to commence operations on the route due to challenges with slot allocation at the destination airport.

“Since securing its authorisation to fly into the UK, after satisfying all the requirements, the issue of slot allocation at Gatwick Airport has been the major obstacle preventing the Airline from commencing the direct flight into London,” said Oluwatoyin Olajide, chief operating officer (CEO) of Air Peace.

Meanwhile, at the meeting with Keyamo, Boiling had said NORSE Atlantic Airways was ready to commence the partnership with Air Peace when the final authorisation is granted to the airline for the commencement of direct flights into Gatwick Airport, London.