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All direct flights to Nigeria from the UK & Ireland
| Flights to | Code | Flights from | Airline Name | Book now | Route to | Route from | Tooltip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos | LOS | London Gatwick | Air Nigeria |  | Flights from London Gatwick to Lagos, Nigeria | Flights to Lagos, Nigeria from London Gatwick | |
| Abuja | ABV | London Heathrow | BA (British Airways) | | flights from London Heathrow to Abuja, Nigeria | Flights to Abuja, Nigeria from London Heathrow | Book directly with BA for the cheapest flight on the internet. |
| Lagos | LOS | London Heathrow | BA (British Airways) | | flights from London Heathrow to Lagos, Nigeria | Flights to Lagos, Nigeria from London Heathrow | Book directly with BA for the cheapest flight on the internet. |
| Lagos | LOS | London Heathrow | Virgin Atlantic | | flights from London Heathrow to Lagos, Nigeria | Flights to Lagos, Nigeria from London Heathrow | |
| Lagos | LOS | London Heathrow | Arik Air | | flights from London Heathrow to Lagos, Nigeria | Flights to Lagos, Nigeria from London Heathrow |
Flight summary
There are currently flights from the UK to just two Nigerian cities – Abuja and Lagos – despite there being sufficient demand for at least five daily flights from London to Lagos alone.
Unfortunately the poor management of a succession of Nigerian carriers has led to British Airways and Virgin Atlantic being able to operate a virtual duopoly on flights from the UK to Nigeria, thus keeping prices at an infuriatingly high level. The woeful Bellview Airlines came and went, Air Nigeria confuses potential customers by constantly changing its name (aka Virgin Nigeria, Nigerian Eagle Airlines and Nigerian Airways), and Arik Air is not exactly scooping up the customer service awards.
Genuine competition on flights from London to Lagos between four or five airlines offering similar service standards may be a pipe dream, but it is the only way prices would be driven down from an average of around £600 return to the more palatable £350 to £400 mark.
Quick Facts
- Country Code: NG
James Says
Competition on domestic flights is fierce. Everyone wants a piece of the pie, but no single airline has really emerged from the pack yet - for example, we have seen up to ten airlines listed offering flights between Lagos an Abuja at any one time. We would tend to advise that those airlines which stretch their tentacles outside Nigeria are generally more trustworthy than those which don't.
Note that most domestic flights from Lagos Murtala Muhammed (LOS) international airport operate from the brand new domestic terminal, also known as "MMA II". This is just over half a mile from the international terminal.
Mark Says
Driving in Nigeria is not for the faint-hearted – think 'Mad Max' on steroids! Snarling traffic, regular road blocks, giant pot holes, trench-like storm drains, poor lighting and the absence of traffic lights means getting anywhere fast is nigh on impossible. On my last visit to Lagos it took over four and a half hours to drive the three miles from my lodgings to the airport. This, I was reliably informed, is not uncommon!
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Railway Corporation cheekily use what looks like a French TGV on their logo, but grand vitesse is certainly not a term which could be used to describe their services. For example, the weekly train from Lagos to Kano takes just over 36 hours to cover the 530 mile journey.
Travel by train in Nigeria is certainly something for rail buffs, rather than an efficient means of getting between A and B. For that, we would have to recommend domestic flights, or for journeys where flights are not available, going by coach.
Your Comments (2)
Chuks
Mark Avery
I have never flown with Arik, but their reputation is mixed at best. They also have a history of stopping routes with very little warning, leaving passengers stranded in the process. I have used BA many times, including on flights between London and Lagos, and have always found them to be solid and reliable. They also have exclusive use of Terminal 5 at Heathrow, which is vastly superior to any of the airport's other terminals. So, if it was me I would pay the extra to go with BA. Hope this helps!