Breakthrough in Nigeria-UK aviation dispute as UK agrees to discuss Air Peace’s Heathrow landing

October 21, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

The United Kingdom’s aviation authorities have agreed to discuss slot allocation for Air Peace, Nigeria’s leading carrier, at London’s Heathrow Airport.

Following a diplomatic letter from Nigeria’s Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister, Festus Keyamo,, the UK aviation authority agreed to open discussion with Nigeria.

This development comes after Keyamo requested landing slots for Air Peace at Heathrow and threatened to deny UK carriers slots at Lagos and Abuja airports if the request wasn’t met.

The UK Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, responded to Keyamo’s letter, expressing willingness to “further discuss this matter” at the “upcoming International Civil Aviation Negotiations event in October 2024.”

This move is seen as a positive step towards resolving the issue, which has been a point of contention between the two countries.

Keyamo’s letter was a bold move to assert Nigeria’s position in international aviation, emphasizing the need for reciprocity in air services agreements .

The minister argued that British carriers, such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, enjoy unrestricted access to Nigeria’s tier-one airports, while Air Peace is forced to operate from Gatwick Airport, a secondary airport.

Industry experts view the UK’s response as an opportunity for a collaborative solution, involving aviation authorities from both countries, Heathrow Airport, and Air Peace .

They suggest that securing Heathrow slots for Air Peace is crucial for the growth of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

The dispute centers around the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK, which doesn’t explicitly address airport slot allocation.

However, experts believe that the principle of reciprocity should apply, ensuring fair competition between Nigerian and British carriers.

As the negotiations unfold, stakeholders are cautious about potential diplomatic tensions and disruptions to travelers and businesses.

The outcome of the discussions will be crucial in determining the future of Air Peace’s operations in London and the broader implications for Nigeria’s aviation sector.