Abuja — Vice President Kashim Shettima has committed to addressing the bureaucratic obstacles preventing Nigerian airline Air Peace from securing landing rights at London Heathrow Airport. This comes after multiple meetings with Airline Operators of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where the airline’s founder and CEO, Allen Onyema, discussed the matter with Shettima.
Despite Air Peace’s attempts to gain access to Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports, it has thus far operated from Gatwick, a secondary airport. Shettima’s intervention aims to resolve the ongoing issue that has prevented the airline from obtaining a slot at Heathrow, which is about 45 minutes from central London.
In a letter dated August 1, 2024, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, warned that if Air Peace is not allocated a space at Heathrow, Nigeria might reciprocate by denying British Airways and Virgin Atlantic slots at Lagos and Abuja airports. This move highlights the significance of the issue within the context of the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK, which facilitates mutual landing privileges for aircraft from both countries.
The dispute partly arises from Air Peace’s missed deadlines for slot requests for the Northern Summer 2024 and Northern Winter 2024 scheduling seasons, as reported by Airport Coordination Limited (ACL), the UK’s independent authority on slot allocation.
Shettima has assured that he will engage with his counterparts to resolve the issue diplomatically. He emphasized that there is no contention, only a commitment to ensure Nigerian airlines are given fair access to international airports.
At a recent meeting, Shettima praised the recent signing of the Cape Town Convention Practice Directions as a significant step towards improving the operating environment for Nigerian airlines. This development, he said, would enhance ease of doing business within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Onyema highlighted the critical nature of airline operations and the need for support to sustain and grow the sector. He lauded Shettima’s commitment and the signing of the CTC Practice Directions, which he believes will positively impact the industry by expanding connectivity and facilitating better business practices.
Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser to the President on PEBEC & Investment, indicated that the meeting was productive and that a small committee has been established to address the issues raised. The committee is expected to present concrete outcomes by Monday, September 23.
The meeting was attended by various stakeholders, including Abdulmunaf Yunusa, Chairman of Azman Airline; Mrs. Ejiro Eghagha, Head of Finance at Air Peace; Dr. Blaise Ijebor from the Central Bank of Nigeria; and officials from the National Hajj Commission.