UK Air Peace
The United Kingdom government has explained the reasons behind the denial of landing slots at Heathrow Airport for Nigerian flag carrier Air Peace.
This explanation was provided in a letter from the UK’s Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, to Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in response to a diplomatic request.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that earlier, Keyamo had written to the UK aviation authorities seeking landing slots for Air Peace at Heathrow Airport, the preferred choice for most international airlines operating in the UK.
However, Haigh clarified that Air Peace had submitted its slot requests too late for both the Summer 2024 and Winter 2024/2025 seasons.
According to the UK government, Air Peace’s request was received after Airports Coordination Limited (ACL) had completed its slot allocation process for both seasons, which led to the unavailability of slots.
Haigh emphasized that Air Peace could still explore other options such as joining the waitlist, operating from another airport, or engaging in slot trading with other airlines.
The letter from Haigh reads in part: “We encourage Air Peace to continue liaising with ACL for acquiring ad-hoc or historic slots at UK’s coordinated airports.
Air Peace’s requests for the Summer 2024 and Winter 2024/2025 seasons arrived after the slot coordination process had already concluded. Airlines must ensure they follow the correct procedures to improve their chances of obtaining available slots.”
UK Air Peace
The letter also acknowledged the limited runway capacity and Air Traffic Movement restrictions at Heathrow, which contribute to slot shortages.
Haigh highlighted that while Heathrow is highly sought after, Gatwick Airport—another major airport with extensive international connections—offers comparable access to London and could be a viable alternative for Air Peace.
Haigh advised that Air Peace consider utilizing Gatwick or explore the slot trading market to meet its operational needs in the UK.
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