Nigeria’s Air Peace will begin nonstop Abuja–London service to Heathrow (LHR) on Sunday, and add Abuja–London Gatwick (LGW) 48 hours later, expanding its UK footprint to three routes alongside its existing Lagos–Gatwick operation.
The privately owned carrier says the new services will be operated with Boeing 777-200 aircraft after the recent arrival of a 777-200ER (5N-CEG), taking its wide-body fleet for long-haul to four. Round-trip promotional fares start from about ₦1 million, a move likely to intensify price competition on the UK–Nigeria corridor long dominated by foreign carriers.
Air Peace’s chairman/CEO, Allen Onyema, credited support from the Tinubu administration and UK authorities for securing Heathrow slots, calling the launch “a milestone for Nigerian aviation.” Aviation minister Festus Keyamo also welcomed the development, framing it as part of a broader push to strengthen Nigeria’s flag presence on lucrative intercontinental routes.
Connectivity and product
The airline says the Abuja flights will feed a domestic network that includes Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Benin, Warri, Owerri, Kano, Yola, Gombe and Asaba, allowing through-ticketing from multiple Nigerian cities. Onboard, the carrier is marketing a “premium cabin experience” on the 777s and Nigerian cuisine across cabins.
Fleet and expansion plans
Beyond the 777s, Air Peace is adding right-sized regional capacity, taking delivery of a second Embraer 190 in September, with more E-Jets expected next year. The airline says it also has 10 Boeing 737 MAX on order and a current fleet of 38 aircraft serving 20 domestic and 10 regional/international destinations.
Onyema reiterated plans to open new long-haul links from Lagos to São Paulo and to Antigua & Barbuda, touting a Lagos–São Paulo block time of about 7.5 hours with nonstop service.
MRO project and jobs
In Lagos, the company has broken ground on a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility designed to reduce heavy-check outsourcing costs borne by Nigerian operators. Air Peace argues the project could retain hundreds of millions of dollars annually now spent in South Africa, Ethiopia, Europe and the US. The airline says it directly employs more than 3,000 people, with additional indirect jobs supported across the supply chain.
Market impact and safety record
Lower UK fares and added Abuja capacity are expected to pressure competitors and widen options for VFR (visiting friends and relatives), student and business traffic. The airline underscores its decade-long safety record with no fatal accidents and maintains that “safety of passengers and equipment is the top priority.”
What’s next
With the two Abuja–London launches, Air Peace becomes the first Nigerian carrier in years to offer parallel London service from both Lagos and the federal capital. Successful execution will hinge on schedule reliability, consistent wide-body availability, and sustained access to Heathrow slots—historically a high bar for new entrants.
If the UK expansion holds and the planned Brazil and Caribbean routes follow, Air Peace will further consolidate its claim as West and Central Africa’s largest airline by fleet and network—while testing how far a homegrown carrier can chip away at entrenched international incumbents on premium long-haul city pairs.
