Air Peace has hailed the launch of its maiden direct flight from London Heathrow Airport to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as a symbol of national pride and resilience.
Nnenna Onyema, Executive Director of International Operations, said in a statement on Monday in Lagos that the route restores the Nigerian flag to one of the world’s busiest air corridors after more than a decade.
At the inauguration ceremony organised by London Heathrow Airport authorities, Onyema emphasised that the flight represents more than a new route—it marks Nigeria’s renewed presence in global aviation.
“For years, there was silence in the skies. Today, that silence ends. Our flag flies again because, as we say back home, ‘Naija no dey carry last,’” she said.
The London-Abuja route is expected to enhance accessibility, affordability, and connectivity for Nigerians and the wider African diaspora. Through Air Peace’s network, passengers can travel onwards from Abuja to destinations across West Africa, including Ghana, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Senegal.
Onyema thanked the Federal Government, President Bola Tinubu, and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for policies that support ease of doing business in the aviation sector. She also expressed appreciation to London Heathrow Airport management for facilitating the flight’s successful launch.
“This operation is a seed of hope. It marks the rebirth of Nigeria’s aviation strength and a future where our nation connects seamlessly with the world; stronger and ready to compete globally,” she added.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the inaugural flight departed London Heathrow Terminal 3 at 21:10 on Sunday, 26 October, and arrived in Abuja at 04:20 on Monday.
