Air Peace will launch flights from Ogun State's Gateway International Airport to London Gatwick and Heathrow this summer, CEO Allen Onyema has confirmed. The announcement followed an inspection of the airport by Onyema and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, days after President Bola Tinubu officially commissioned the facility. Onyema praised the airport as one of the best-equipped in Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting its four-kilometre runway capable of handling large aircraft like the Airbus A380. He stated that Air Peace would deploy its Boeing 777 fleet for the London routes and revealed that approval had been granted by the Minister of Aviation.
Onyema described the project as a national asset, not just a state initiative, and commended Abiodun for delivering a world-class facility. "When you see a promising initiative, you must embrace it," he said. Governor Abiodun disclosed that cargo operations have already begun with Allied Air, while Ethiopian Airlines and another European carrier are set to commence services soon. He projected 50 cargo flights through the airport between April and December. The state is also building an international conference centre and a 550-room five-star hotel to support tourism and business. Abiodun confirmed the establishment of Gateway Airlines, which has acquired two 90-seater Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft to boost domestic connectivity.
Allen Onyema's decision to launch London flights from a state-owned airport outside Lagos signals a shift in Nigeria's aviation dynamics. It places Ogun State at the centre of a potential regional air travel reconfiguration, challenging the dominance of Murtala Muhammed and Nnamdi Azikiwe airports. For Nigerian travellers, this could mean reduced congestion at major hubs and more departure options in the southwest. The success of the venture, however, hinges on sustained infrastructure support and airline commitment beyond initial announcements.
