Air Peace moves to get US clearance for New York flight operations

• Follows approval by Nigerian authorities

Phillip Isakpa in London, UK

Air Peace, Nigeria’s and West Africa’s largest airline by fleet size, has begun moves in earnest to secure early clearance from the United States to begin commercial flight operations between Nigeria and New York.

The airline moves follow the approval it received from the Nigerian authorities over the weekend after it requested the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to grant it approval to begin commercial operation on the route.

It is not clear yet how swiftly and easily Air Peace would secure a slot in the busy John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, but analysts say they hope that the Nigerian carrier does not suffer the long drawn out processes it experienced in the hands of the authorities in the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates, the former of which took three years to secure an approval.  

When Air Peace tried to secure slots at lucrative London Heathrow Airport from the UK authorities, they had offered London Stansted and London Gatwick airports instead, offers which were flatly rejected by the leading Nigeria and West Africa carrier.

Air Peace spent at least 18 months complaining about the UK authorities dragging their feet over approving London Heathrow slots to the airline.

The matter also drew the attention of rights lawyer Femi Falana, who called for the suspension of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic flights to Nigeria until the UK authorities granted Heathrow airport slots to Air Peace, which began a ‘Heathrow or nothing’ campaign to press its demand.

Allen Onyema, the chief executive of the airline, in rejecting the Stansted and Gatwick offer by the UK authorities, cited the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK, which were being enjoyed by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

“It took seven years for them to come and do the audit. Now we have got the approval. The next thing is slots, and they are telling us to go to [go to] London Stansted or take London Gatwick. I’m not going to Stansted or Gatwick. You come to the primary airport in Nigeria, and by BASA, you enjoy the two primary airports. So, you will give me your own primary airport. It must be Heathrow or nothing,” Onyema said at the time.

There could still be a long process involved regarding the New York flight operations by Air Peace, sources familiar with the approval processes told Business a.m. over the weekend.

While there is a subsisting BASA between Nigeria and the United States, the process of clearing airlines to fly into a country’s airport can be long drawn out. Sources within Air Peace refuse to confirm if an audit of Air Peace for potential clearance has been requested and carried out by the US authorities, something required in the process leading up to eventual slot allocation at the airport concerned.

But last week, there was palpable excitement at Air Peace upon securing the approval from its home base, the Nigerian authorities.

The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, acting on a request by Air Peace, approved and authorised the airline to go ahead with its plans to begin international commercial flights to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, United States.

The airline wrote to Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development on January 12, 2024 for the approval, which was granted on February 9, 2024.

The letter conveying the approval carried the reference number FMA/ATMD/0186/S.5/X/696 and was titled, ‘Conveyance of approval to Messrs Air Peace Limited to operate commercial international flight operations into and out of New York.”

In the letter the ministry stated that granting of the request is in line with the subsisting ‘Open Skies’ agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the government of the United States of America.

The letter was signed by H.T. Ejibunu, director, air transport management, and reads in part, “I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 12, 2024, on the above subject and convey the Honourable Minister’s approval for the designation of Air Peace Limited to operate commercial international flights into and out of John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, United States of America.

“This is in line with the subsisting ‘Open Skies’ agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the government of the United States of America.

“Consequently, your airline is being advised to liaise with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States of America for documentation before commencement of scheduled flight operations. However, the airline is required to comply with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs) 2023 part 18.5.11 by taking further necessary steps to liaise with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on the requirements. Kindly note that the approval has been communicated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its further necessary action.”