UK Government Explains Denial of Heathrow Access to Air Peace
The United Kingdom has provided a formal explanation to the Nigerian government regarding why Air Peace was denied landing slots at London's Heathrow Airport. This clarification was made in a letter from the UK’s Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, addressed to Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
Late Slot Requests by Air Peace
The issue arose after Minister Keyamo had written to UK aviation authorities, seeking access for Air Peace at Heathrow, one of the most sought-after airports for international airlines. In response, Haigh explained that Air Peace’s requests for landing slots had been submitted too late for both the Summer 2024 and Winter 2024/2025 seasons.
According to Haigh, the airline's request was received after the Airports Coordination Limited (ACL), the body responsible for managing slot allocations at UK airports, had already completed the slot coordination process for the Summer season. This delay left Air Peace with limited options for securing a presence at Heathrow.
Limited Options for Slot Allocation
Haigh's letter outlined the available alternatives for Air Peace under such circumstances. The airline could either join the waitlist, seek to operate from another airport, or acquire slots through trading with other carriers.
"We encourage Air Peace to continue liaising with Airports Coordination Limited (ACL) on acquiring ad-hoc or historic slots at the UK’s coordinated airports," the letter stated. It emphasized that airlines have the best chance of securing slots by adhering to established processes and timelines.
Heathrow’s Slot Constraints
The letter also highlighted the significant pressure on slot availability at Heathrow due to runway capacity constraints and limits on Air Traffic Movements (ATM). For example, in the Summer 2024 season, only 290,580 slots were available, while 319,721 slots were requested, leaving over 29,000 slot requests unfulfilled. These unmet requests were placed on a waitlist in the hope that returned slots could be redistributed.
Alternative Opportunities at Gatwick Airport
As an alternative, the UK government suggested that Air Peace consider operating from Gatwick Airport, which is the second-busiest airport in the UK and offers numerous connections to Europe, Asia, and North America. Gatwick also benefits from direct rail connections to central London, offering travel times comparable to other London airports.
Haigh pointed out that many international carriers have established successful operations at Gatwick, and that this could be a viable option for Air Peace if they are unable to secure slots at Heathrow.
In conclusion, the UK government emphasized the importance of following the appropriate procedures to secure landing slots at the highly competitive Heathrow Airport, while also offering potential alternatives for the Nigerian carrier to expand its operations in the UK
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