Chairman Allen Onyema of Air Peace Airlines discusses his decision to operate flights into London Gatwick Airport instead of Heathrow.
While the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK stipulated that each nation would grant access to its primary airport, Air Peace was initially denied access to Heathrow Airport.
“They told us Heathrow was not available,” Dr. Onyema explains, referencing British authorities. “They were even suggesting London Stansted Airport or Luton.”
While initially opposed to Gatwick, Dr. Onyema ultimately saw its benefits:
Convenience for Passengers: “Many of our people live down South East part of London,” he says, highlighting the airport’s proximity to areas where many Nigerians reside.
Efficient Transportation: Compared to Heathrow’s potential traffic congestion, Gatwick offers “access to the Gatwick express train within three minutes” for quick access to Central London.
Multimodal Connectivity: “From the south terminal you have access to tube, you have access to national rail and you have access to road transport to other parts of the UK.”
Dr. Onyema concludes, “Gatwick has turned out to be even better for us. That’s why we took Gatwick.”
