A scheduled evacuation flight for stranded citizens has suffered delay as a Nigerian carrier, Air Peace has been denied landing permit. The repatriation flight which was scheduled to depart Heathrow Airport on Monday is now billed for Gatwick airport on Tuesday.
The Minister of foreign affairs Ferdinard Nwonye, disclosed that a UK airline Air Partner will instead operate the flight. Sequence to the denial of a diplomatic landing clearance permit to Air Peace, Federal Government said it had appealed to the carrier to engage the services of an alternative airline to operate the evacuation flight instead of refunding the passengers their money.
From the statement:“It is pertinent to note that Air Peace gracefully contracted Air Partner to operate these charter flights on its behalf at a much higher cost than the ticket fares paid by the prospective evacuees
“In the light of the foregoing, the Federal Government wishes to extend its appreciation to the chairman and management of Air Peace Limited for their commitments and patriotism in ensuring that our stranded nationals in the United Kingdom return home safely.”
The refusal to grant Air Peace landing rights is coming against the backdrop of the evacuation of about 2,000 British nationals from Nigeria by British Airways after receiving special landing rights from the FG.