The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Limited, Allen Onyema, has credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy interventions for enabling the airline’s historic Abuja–London Heathrow flight and for significantly reducing international airfares.
Onyema said the president’s backing helped drive down ticket prices on the London route from as high as $13,000 to around $3,000.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday, Onyema described the milestone as a defining moment for Nigeria’s aviation industry, showcasing how strong collaboration between the government and the private sector can transform key sectors.
“I want to congratulate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making this happen,” Onyema said. “This is a clear example of how government support can help the private sector thrive. No nation grows without empowering its private sector, because that is where the government’s vision is implemented.”
He continued, “President Tinubu did the right thing for this country. His intervention forced foreign airlines to bring down their ticket prices drastically. What used to cost $13,000 from Abuja to Heathrow now costs about $3,000.”
Air Peace achieved a major feat on Sunday, October 26, 2025, when it launched a direct flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to London Heathrow Airport — a first for a Nigerian carrier.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the development through his aide, stating that the flight marked “a major milestone for Nigeria’s aviation sector.”
Onyema noted that the new route has made air travel more affordable for Nigerians and introduced healthy competition to the market.
“This flight has saved Nigerians a lot of money. Even British passengers were excited because competition has finally arrived,” he said.
According to Onyema, Air Peace now operates 14 weekly flights between Nigeria and the United Kingdom — covering both Lagos–London Gatwick and Abuja–London Heathrow routes — making it the first Nigerian airline to run both simultaneously.
“This is not just about London; it opens access to the world,” he added. “Many of our passengers now connect from London to America, Canada, and Asia, saving significantly on travel costs. Even if you don’t fly Air Peace, you now benefit from lower prices because competition has forced others to reduce fares.”
Onyema commended Keyamo for executing the president’s aviation vision, noting that the administration had restored international leasing access to Nigerian airlines for the first time in over 15 years.
“For more than 15 years, our industry was blacklisted. But this government changed that by signing the Cape Town Convention Practice Direction, allowing major leasing companies to return to Nigeria,” he said. “I can’t stop praising Festus Keyamo — he’s implementing the president’s aviation agenda perfectly.”
He also applauded the removal of the 4% FOB levy on imported aircraft parts, saying that such quick, responsive actions from the government inspire confidence among investors.
“We’re not asking for money — just fair and supportive policies. When we raised the issue of the levy, the president listened and removed it immediately. That’s what a responsive government does,” Onyema said.
However, he warned against what he called “bureaucratic hostility” and a “pull-him-down syndrome” that often targets indigenous companies.
“Trying to destroy a company like Air Peace, which employs over 10,000 Nigerians, is self-destructive. When businesses fail, people lose jobs — and insecurity increases,” he cautioned.
Onyema stressed that Air Peace’s achievements represent Nigeria’s collective success, not just his personal effort.
“Air Peace is not about Allen Onyema — it’s about Nigeria. Every time our aircraft flies into London carrying the Nigerian flag, it shows the world what we can achieve when government and the private sector work together,” he said.
Earlier in June 2025, Minister Keyamo announced that the Air Peace–Heathrow route was the result of sustained diplomatic engagement by the Federal Government to enforce reciprocity in international air service agreements.
He explained that the breakthrough followed a formal letter from the ministry to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Rt. Hon. Louise Haigh, dated August 1, 2024, which paved the way for the historic flight operations.
