The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, has been actively engaging in discussions with UK transport officials. The central focus of these talks is to address the challenges faced by Nigeria’s domestic airline, Air Peace, in launching direct flights from Lagos to London. This initiative is a part of the broader aim to bolster the growth of domestic airlines in Nigeria, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The discussions, which involved a meeting between Keyamo and the management of NORSE Atlantic Airways, revolve around a partnership between NORSE, a prominent carrier in the UK and Europe, and Air Peace Airline. Ben Boiling, CEO of NORSE Atlantic Airways, expressed readiness to commence this partnership as soon as Air Peace receives final authorization for direct flights to Gatwick Airport in London.
Despite Air Peace having already obtained permission to fly into the UK, it has encountered difficulties in securing time slots at Gatwick Airport, which has been a significant obstacle in initiating the direct flights. The Department for Transport in the UK clarified during the meeting that the UK government does not have authority over slot allocation at its major airports. Nonetheless, they acknowledged the concerns raised by the Federal Government of Nigeria and agreed to communicate them to relevant authorities. The concerns include issues related to departure times, restrictive turnaround times, and approvals for the summer schedule of 2024.