…To Commence Abuja —Heathrow Airport October ,26.
…Abuja–Heathrow Flights Three Times A Week
…Abuja–Gatwick Four Times Per Week
The Chairman of Air Peace’ Limited, Dr. Alex Onyema has disclosed that the airline has secured approval from British Authorities through the Airports Coordination Limited for slot to operate at Heathrow Airport in London, one of the busiest airports in the world.
This is just as he also informed that Air Peace will commence flight operations into Heathrow from Abuja on October 26 and that the Abuja–Heathrow flights will be three times a week.
However, Abuja to Gatwick will be four times a week while Lagos –Gatwick remain seven times a week.
He made these known during an interactive session with Aviation Correspondents at the airline’s corporate headquarters in Lagos, yesterday.
He said that the airline’s safety record and resilience played major role in the success and that European countries would not allow Air Peace to operate commercial flights into their airspace if its safety record is doubtful.
Recall that Air Peace with the help of the Federal Government six years after was able to reciprocate the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) Nigeria signed with the Britain by launching a direct flight to London.
He added that the airline will also be operating to the Caribbean, China and India to expand its route network.l in September.
“We are connecting Nigerians in the Diaspora, we started this operations some months ago, we flew to St. Kitts, we also transported over 200 passengers to Jamaica, we have increased our B777 to four because our China operations will soon start. We are already discussing acquisition of Wide-bodied aircraft based on wet lease arrangement.”
On the maintenance of Air Peace’s airplanes aircraft, he said that the airline has signed maintenance agreement with Israeli Aerospace Service to maintain its aircraft, adding that it is one of the best in the world,” he said.
On the supply of aircraft spares, he said that the airline has signed agreement with Original Equipment Manufacturers, (OEM) for the supplies,these put together further boost the airline safety compliance and rating.
Speaking on Air Peace’s financial integrity, Onyema said that it has grown tremendously and has won the confidence of financial institutions, that are beginning to in investment in the aviation industry.
He thanked Fidelity and Zenith banks for their support as they stood by the airline during difficulties.
“The banking industry confidence has grown due to our financial integrity. Fidelity bank celebrated us recently, our financial integrity is the reason for our expansion, every Nigerian banks now wants to partner with us because we see borrowed money as other people’s money, they are depositors’ money, so we are prudent with it, banks don’t look over their shoulders when they are dealing with us”, he added.
The Lagos–London direct flight to Gatwick was launched on March 30, 2024.
Prior to Air Peace reciprocating the BASA, the Federal Government accused of the British Government for using aero-politics to deny Nigerian airlines approvals to fly to United Kingdom and also denied them slots to operate at Heathrow Airport.
The Federal Government had also told the British Government that while it gave British Airways approvals to fly into Nigeria without any hindrances, Nigerian airlines are denied access to British airspace contrary to the BASA signed by the two countries.
Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest Airport and its slots are some of the most sought-after in the world .
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