TheCable

Air Peace, Nigeria’s flag carrier, commenced its Lagos-London flight services on Saturday.

The airline announced the development on its X page on Saturday, expressing delight over the milestone.

“London service has commenced and we’re delighted to have achieved yet another feat in our drive to continually provide peaceful connectivity across cities,” Air Peace posted. 

“A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this launch.”

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development; and Doris Uzoka-Anita, minister of industry, trade and investment, were present as the airline marked its inaugural flight to London.

The London trip comes a month after the Nigerian flag carrier said it would commence direct flight operations from Lagos to Gatwick Airport in London.

In November 2023, Air Peace had secured a foreign carrier operator permit (FCOP) to fly into the United Kingdom (UK.)

However, the airline could not kick off operations on the route due to challenges with slot allocation at the destination airport.

Prior to this, Keyamo had engaged the UK government to actualise direct flights from Lagos to London.

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

The meeting was to facilitate a partnership between Air Peace and NORSE Atlantic for the operations of the Lagos-London flights.

‘PRESSURE ON FX TO REDUCE’

Speaking at the event, Keyamo, on Friday, said the commencement of direct Lagos-London flight by Air Peace would ease the pressure on the Nigerian local currency naira, as it would reduce the demand for foreign exchange (FX) by Nigerians and foreign airlines.

Keyamo, according to a statement by Air Peace, said the start of flight services on the route by the domestic carrier had also compelled some mega airlines on the Lagos-London route to drop fares.

The minister promised that the federal government would continue to protect the airline and other Nigerian carriers that may want to operate international services, and assured of the government’s support.

LAGOS-LONDON FLIGHT MAJOR STEP TO IMPROVING UK-NIGERIA TRADE’

On her part, Uzoka-Anite described the airline’s milestone as the convergence of innovation, determination, and the unwavering commitment to excellence.

“Nigeria has needed a local airline flying directly to the UK for a number of years. Air Peace proudly wears the badge of ‘Made in Nigeria’,” she said.

“It is a symbol of our collective effort to showcase our capabilities to the world. From the skilled hands that maintain the aircraft to the warm smiles of the cabin crew, every aspect of Air Peace reflects the spirit of our nation.

“Let us reflect on the economic impact of this flight. Air Peace’s presence in London is not merely about arrivals and departures; it is about trade, investment, and collaboration. By choosing Air Peace, you choose to invest in Nigeria. You choose to empower local businesses, create jobs, and strengthen our economy.

“In December 2023, the UK exported £185 million to Nigeria and imported £154 million, resulting in a negative trade balance of £30.8 million. This is a trend we wish to change in Nigeria’s favour and an additional trade route is a major step in the right direction.”

Below are a few photos from the event.