Air Peace has renewed its call for the establishment of world-class transit hubs in Lagos and Abuja to enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian carriers on the high-traffic London route.
The airline made the appeal during the Inaugural Lecture organised by SAPTCO Communication Ltd in Lagos, where industry leaders, including the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Captain Chris Najomo, and the former DG of NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren, delivered strong messages on the nation’s aeropolitical strategy.
Representing the Chairman of Air Peace Limited, the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Mr Nowel Ngala, said the development of functional transit infrastructure would enable Nigerian airlines to claim their rightful share of regional and international traffic, especially on the United Kingdom–Nigeria corridor, the country’s busiest aviation market.
Ngala described the UK–Nigeria market as the “first and highest-traffic corridor” connecting the country to the world, with more than 450,000 annual travellers, making it the single largest international route Nigeria serves.
He observed that British Airways has enjoyed uninterrupted operations on the route for over 90 years, while Virgin Atlantic also entered the market later with direct flights. Currently, three airlines offer non-stop connections between Nigeria and the UK’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
Despite these direct options, Ngala noted that 29 per cent of Nigerian passengers still travel to London via third-country hubs, including Doha, Istanbul, Paris, and Addis Ababa – an indication of significant market potential yet to be captured by Nigerian carriers.
His remarks complemented earlier concerns raised by Minister Keyamo and the DGCA, who emphasised that the London route remains a global battleground where only well-supported national carriers can thrive amid stiff commercial and political competition.
Ngala chronicled Air Peace’s journey on the London route since its successful launch of Lagos–Gatwick direct flights in March 2024. He said the operation has seen “steady and encouraging growth,” prompting the airline to expand further into the UK.
In October 2025, Air Peace launched Abuja–Heathrow flights, adding another significant layer to its international portfolio.
The airline’s current UK schedule includes: Daily Lagos–Gatwick flights, Three weekly Abuja–Heathrow flights, and Three weekly Abuja–Gatwick services.
Ngala said these expansions demonstrate that Nigerian carriers have the capacity, aircraft, and operational structure required to compete in an arena long dominated by foreign airlines.
His presentation echoed the DGCA’s earlier remarks that Air Peace’s success symbolises Nigeria’s growing confidence and capability in international aviation.
Ngala used the opportunity to express deep appreciation to the Federal Government, the NCAA and the Minister of Aviation for championing Nigerian airlines’ access to international routes through policy reforms, bilateral negotiations and regulatory support.
“We want to sincerely thank the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Minister of Aviation, and the Nigerian government for their relentless support and continuous push,” he said.
He equally thanked the Nigerian travelling public for their loyalty and patience, stressing that every ticket sold contributes to the survival and expansion of indigenous airlines.
The core of Ngala’s message was a passionate plea for the development of seamless transit hubs at Lagos and Abuja airports – facilities where connecting passengers can move through without reclaiming their baggage or undergoing an additional check-in process.
He explained that the absence of such infrastructure limits Nigerian carriers’ ability to compete for transit passengers from neighbouring regions, thereby weakening the country’s sixth-freedom strategy.
“This will enable Air Peace and other Nigerian carriers to pull more traffic from the regions surrounding into Nigeria and then to London,” Ngala said.
Currently, regional traffic is easily absorbed by foreign airlines with established hubs, a concern that aligns with the Minister’s earlier emphasis on Nigeria playing aeropolitics smartly to protect its national interest in global aviation.
Ngala reaffirmed Air Peace’s dedication to supporting the development of Nigeria’s aviation sector, assuring stakeholders that the airline would continue to work closely with government authorities, regulators and industry partners.
“Air Peace will always provide all the required support to grow the Nigerian aviation industry,” he said.
The SAPTCO Inaugural Lecture concluded with a united call from all speakers for stronger aeropolitical engagement, enhanced infrastructure and coordinated national strategies to secure Nigeria’s long-term presence and dominance on the London route.
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