The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, recently sent a formal letter to UK aviation authorities seeking landing slots for Air Peace at Heathrow Airport. The request has stirred discussions within the industry.
Reports have highlighted the protest letter from Keyamo to his British counterpart regarding the denial of landing rights for Air Peace at Heathrow. Efforts to secure a slot at Heathrow, a primary UK airport, have been unsuccessful for Air Peace, which currently operates from Gatwick Airport.
Despite both Nigeria and the UK being signatories to a bilateral aviation safety agreement, challenges persist in securing landing slots. The agreement, known as the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement, outlines cooperation between authorities to ensure aviation safety and facilitate trade in aeronautical products.
The dispute between the countries escalated when it was revealed that Air Peace missed critical deadlines for slot requests at Heathrow. This has raised concerns about the airline’s prospects at one of the busiest airports globally.
Keyamo expressed disappointment over the UK’s handling of the situation, emphasizing the need for reciprocity in granting landing rights. Stakeholders have supported Keyamo’s stance, calling for diplomatic resolutions to the issue.
As discussions continue, the aviation industry awaits a resolution to the standoff between Nigeria and the UK regarding landing slots at Heathrow Airport.