Nigerian Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo warns the UK of reciprocal actions if Air Peace is not granted a slot at London Heathrow. In a formal letter, Keyamo threatens to deny British Airways and Virgin Atlantic access to Lagos and Abuja airports unless Air Peace's request is honored.
Nigerian Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has issued a formal complaint to the UK government regarding Air Peace's denied access to London Heathrow Airport. In a letter dated August 1, 2024, addressed to Louise Haigh, UK Secretary of State for Transport, Keyamo expressed frustration over the consistent refusal to allocate a slot for Air Peace at Heathrow. The Nigerian airline has been operating from Gatwick Airport, despite numerous attempts to secure a position at Heathrow, which is more centrally located.
Keyamo's letter highlighted the inequity, noting that British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have been operating smoothly in Nigeria’s primary airports—Lagos and Abuja—without similar restrictions. He emphasized that the denial of Heathrow access to Air Peace undermines the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK, which is based on reciprocity.
The Minister warned that if Air Peace continues to be excluded from Heathrow, Nigeria may reciprocate by barring British carriers from accessing Lagos and Abuja airports, starting from the upcoming IATA Winter Season in November 2024. Keyamo urged the UK to resolve the issue promptly, stressing that Nigeria feels betrayed by the UK’s lack of reciprocity.
The UK High Commission in Abuja has reportedly received the letter, but there has been no public response from the British authorities. Keyamo was unavailable for comment when contacted by local media.
