The Chief Customer Officer of Heathrow Airport, Ross Baker, has commended Air Peace for the launch of the direct flight operations between Abuja and London Heathrow.

A statement by the media department of Air Peace stated that Baker made this comment earlier in the week during the airline’s inaugural flight from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, to London Heathrow Airport.

Baker described the feat as an achievement, which underscored Nigeria’s growing prominence on the global aviation map.

He further described the launch as a moment of pride and progress that symbolises the deepening partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

He said: “It’s a real pleasure to welcome everyone here today at Heathrow for a truly exciting milestone — one that has been years in the making. The launch of Air Peace’s direct service between London Heathrow and Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, marks more than just the beginning of a new route; it represents the start of a stronger, more connected future between our two nations,” he said.

He applauded Air Peace’s strategic vision, resilience, and commitment to excellence, noting that the airline’s entry into Heathrow — one of the world’s busiest and most competitive international gateways — is both a bold and historic achievement.

“Abuja is a vibrant and important destination. Nearly 140,000 passengers travelled between the United Kingdom and Abuja last year alone, and we’re thrilled that this new service will make the connection even stronger,” Baker added.

Baker emphasised that Heathrow’s partnership with Air Peace reflected a shared commitment to fostering global connectivity, enhancing passenger choice, and strengthening socio-economic ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

His remarks underscore the growing recognition of Air Peace as a symbol of Nigeria’s resilience, ambition, and national pride, representing a new era for indigenous airlines on the global stage.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had recently canvassed support for private sector participation in a bid to grow the country’s economy.

Keyamo insisted that without the private sector, the economy would nosedive.

He said: “If you destroy the private sector in your country, you destroy the country. Every good economy thrives on the wealth and well-being of the private sector — the greatest employer of labour and engine of growth. We have done all we can within our powers to give our local operators the muscle and leverage for fair competition.

“International airlines have been coming to Nigeria for nearly 90 years on some routes, lifting passengers back and forth without our operators fully participating. Under our BASAs, we had rights too — but no capacity, no access, no slot at Heathrow. Today, that changes.”

The minister attributed the success of the inaugural flight to the mandate from President Bola Tinubu, which stipulated total support for indigenous carriers in order for the sector to thrive and survive.

He regretted the mortality rate of over 100 indigenous airlines in the last 40 years, insisting many of them were due to a lack of government support.