The dispute between Nigeria and the United Kingdom has intensified over landing rights for Nigerian carrier Air Peace at London’s Heathrow Airport. Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has sent a formal complaint to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, requesting that Air Peace be granted landing slots at Heathrow. Keyamo threatened reciprocal measures, including denying British Airways and Virgin Atlantic landing rights at Nigerian airports, if the request is not accommodated.
Air Peace, which currently operates from Gatwick Airport, has struggled to secure a slot at the more central Heathrow, a situation compounded by claims of missed deadlines for slot requests. The UK’s independent slot coordinator, Airport Coordination Limited, indicated that Air Peace failed to meet critical application deadlines, adding complexity to the dispute.
The bilateral aviation safety agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK supports reciprocal landing rights but does not explicitly guarantee slots at specific airports like Heathrow. Keyamo’s complaint highlighted the disparity, noting that British carriers have unrestricted access to Nigerian airports while Air Peace faces obstacles in the UK.
Industry stakeholders and aviation experts have called for a resolution through diplomatic channels, echoing Keyamo’s sentiment that Nigerian carriers should be afforded equal treatment. The dispute reflects ongoing tensions over aviation rights and bilateral agreements between the two countries.
