A diplomatic dispute arose after UK authorities denied the airline’s request, despite the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement between Nigeria and the UK.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he ongoing diplomatic tussle between Nigeria and the United Kingdom has reached a critical juncture over the refusal of Heathrow Airport to grant landing slots to Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest private airline.
Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, recently wrote a protest letter to his British counterpart, Louise Haigh, urging the UK to offer Air Peace access to Heathrow.
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In his letter, Keyamo warned that if Air Peace was not granted a slot at Heathrow by the next scheduling season, Nigeria would reciprocate by denying British Airways and Virgin Atlantic access to Lagos and Abuja airports.
This would be a significant move, given that both British airlines have long enjoyed unrestricted access to Nigeria’s prime airports.
Although Air Peace currently operates flights to London from Gatwick, its bid to secure a spot at Heathrow—London’s most prestigious airport—has been unsuccessful.
Stakeholders within the industry have pointed out that slot allocation at Heathrow is independent of government intervention and falls under the remit of Airport Coordination Limited.
The company revealed that Air Peace missed key deadlines for slot applications in both the Summer and Winter 2024 seasons, further complicating the airline’s efforts.
Keyamo’s letter, which was leaked to the media, underscores the principle of reciprocity enshrined in the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK.
This agreement obliges both countries to provide equal opportunities for their airlines at each other’s airports. Despite this, British carriers continue to operate at Nigeria’s primary airports without any restrictions, while Air Peace faces hurdles in its bid to land at Heathrow.
Industry experts have called for further diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue amicably. They believe the dispute should not escalate to the point of grounding British airlines in Nigeria.
However, they also affirm the importance of reciprocity and equal treatment for Nigerian airlines abroad.
The situation has drawn parallels with a similar standoff between Nigeria and the UAE, which was resolved through diplomatic engagement.
As the deadline looms, all eyes are on the ongoing negotiations to see whether Air Peace will finally secure the coveted Heathrow landing rights.
