The vibrant ceremony, held at Terminal 3’s check-in area, was attended by top Nigerian and British dignitaries, including Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, senior UK officials, diplomats, aviation regulators, business leaders, and representatives of the Nigerian community in the UK. The launch drew praise as a defining milestone for Nigeria’s aviation industry, reflecting renewed confidence, strategic reform, and the resilience of indigenous enterprise.
In his welcome address, Mr. Ross Baker, Chief Customer Officer of Heathrow Airport, hailed the development as “a moment of pride and progress” for both nations.
“It is a real pleasure to welcome everyone here at Heathrow for this truly exciting milestone — the launch of Air Peace’s direct service between London and Abuja,” Baker said. “This is more than a new route; it represents the start of a stronger, more connected future between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.”
He commended Air Peace for its “strategic vision, resilience, and commitment to excellence,” describing the airline’s successful entry into Heathrow — one of the world’s most competitive gateways — as bold and historic.
“Abuja is a vibrant destination. Nearly 140,000 passengers travelled between the UK and Abuja last year alone, and this new service will make that connection even stronger,” he added
