(BRASÍLIA) Nigeria and Brazil have signed a new Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), unlocking direct commercial flights between Lagos and São Paulo for the first time in years and setting the stage for faster travel, revived trade, and stronger ties across the South Atlantic. The pact was signed in Brasília on August 25, 2025, during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva present.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo and Brazil’s Minister of Transport Silvio Costa Filho were the key signatories. Air Peace has already flown a demonstration service, and regular operations are slated to begin in late November or early December.
Route, frequency, and travel time
Under the BASA, Air Peace will launch three weekly flights on the Lagos–São Paulo route, with some services also linking Rio de Janeiro. The airline plans to scale up frequencies if demand grows.
The headline change is time savings: a direct hop cuts the journey from more than 20 hours (via European or Middle Eastern layovers) to about 7 hours across the Atlantic.
- For business owners: same-day connections to factories, farms, ports, and tech hubs.
- For families: fewer transit visas, and flights short enough to make yearly visits realistic.
Significance: practical and symbolic
Officials describe the BASA as both practical and symbolic.
Practical benefits:
– Lowers costs, simplifies logistics, and adds cargo capacity.
– Reduces transit times and the risk of missed connections.
Symbolic benefits:
– Reconnects two large, diverse democracies with deep historical links—from Yoruba heritage in Bahia to Afro-Brazilian culture tracing back to West Africa.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the agreement will likely spur airlines and cargo operators to test more South–South routes, using Lagos as a gateway to West and Central Africa and São Paulo as a springboard to the rest of South America.
Operational readiness and industry moves
Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest carrier, has positioned aircraft and crews to start quickly and has ordered new Embraer jets from Brazil, tying the agreement to real fleet growth.
On the cargo side, Cavertin has been named as a partner, offering a direct bridge for goods that previously moved through third countries, often with days of delay and added cost. Aviation planners in both countries say three weekly frequencies at launch are realistic, with room to add more flights as passenger and cargo demand firm up.
Network effects and onward connections
Brazilian and Nigerian officials highlight route benefits beyond the headline cities:
- São Paulo: connections to dozens of Brazilian destinations and onward flights to Argentina, Chile, and the Andean region.
- Lagos: links to major West African markets and hub cities further afield.
This creates a cleaner two-flight path for travelers who previously needed three or four segments.
Early demand is expected from:
– Oil and gas
– Agribusiness
– Textiles
– Fintech
– Creative industries
– Family travelers and students
Immigration, visas, and entry rules
Both governments stress that the route change does not alter entry rules. Standard visa policies for Brazil and Nigeria still apply.
Travelers should:
– Check visa categories that match their purpose—tourism, business meetings, or study.
– Confirm passport validity, health rules, and onward ticket requirements before booking.
Direct flights help by removing transit visa surprises in third countries, but they do not replace the need to comply with each country’s own entry system. For official travel notices and transport policy updates tied to the agreement, consult the Brazilian government portal at the Brazilian Ministry of Transport.
Demonstration flight and political backing
Air Peace’s demonstration flight from São Paulo to Lagos, which carried officials and business leaders, signaled that the agreement is operationally real, not just symbolic.
- Nigeria’s aviation minister Festus Keyamo framed the route as a lever to grow local jobs in tourism, airport services, and maintenance.
- Brazil’s Minister Silvio Costa Filho linked the flights to broader cooperation in transport, infrastructure, and agriculture—sectors where speed and perishability make direct air links essential.
Wider diplomatic context
The BASA emerged from a broader diplomatic push during President Tinubu’s visit. Multiple agreements were signed beyond aviation, including in health, science and technology, and cultural cooperation. The aviation deal stands out as the most immediately visible to ordinary travelers, replacing long detours that dulled business activity and complicated family visits.
Expected effects: price, reliability, and integration
Aviation experts point to several expected effects:
- Price competition
- A nonstop option typically puts downward pressure on fares that required European or Middle Eastern connections.
- Reliability
- Fewer links reduce missed flights, baggage misroutes, and knock-on delays.
- Regional integration
- Ties Lagos and São Paulo more deeply to their surrounding regions (West African secondary cities via Lagos, Brazilian interior hubs via São Paulo).
“This is the kind of ‘hard’ connectivity that supports ‘soft’ cooperation in research, education, and culture.”
Cargo impacts
Cargo implications may rival the passenger story. Direct belly space on passenger flights plus dedicated freighters can shave days off shipping times.
Benefits for exporters and importers:
– Nigerian exporters: produce, leather goods, pharmaceuticals—less spoilage, faster delivery.
– Brazilian firms: machinery, auto parts, processed foods—more reliable supply chains.
Freight forwarders see opportunities to smooth supply chains, reduce spoilage, and open niche markets where reliability commands a premium. If volumes grow, there is room for more frequencies and larger aircraft.
Tourism, cultural exchange, and academia
Tourism officials are preparing campaigns focused on culture, music, food, and sport.
- Afro-Brazilian travelers with West African roots, and Nigerians with family ties to Brazil, gain a simpler route for personal journeys.
- Universities and cultural groups are exploring exchange programs that were previously harder to manage due to complex connections and transit visa checks.
Risks and conditions for success
Policy analysts caution direct flights are not a cure-all. Success depends on:
– Consistent schedules
– Competitive fares
– Strong consular support
– Streamlined airport transfers
– Security vetting that remains tight but efficient
– Ongoing monitoring and flexible slot allocation
Early signs—demonstration flights, aircraft orders, and clear start dates—suggest political commitment is matched by operational planning.
Business and startup impacts
Air Peace chairman Allen Onyema emphasized how faster travel creates opportunities for youth and small businesses in both markets.
Practical business steps:
– Compare total landed cost: direct vs multi-stop routes.
– Lock in cargo space for time-sensitive shipments ahead of peak seasons.
– Map onward connections from São Paulo and Lagos to secondary cities.
– Build travel policies that favor nonstop routes when time and reliability matter.
Policy monitoring and future expansion
Officials in Brasília say they will monitor performance and coordinate with Nigerian counterparts to ensure safety, consumer protection, and fair competition. The BASA’s review clauses will be used to tune capacity as demand changes.
- Early talk includes the possibility of increasing weekly flights if load factors justify it.
- Better timed banked connections at each hub are under consideration.
Practical advice for travelers and businesses
For ordinary travelers:
– Check passport validity and visa needs early.
– Buy travel insurance that covers medical care and delays.
– Arrive early at the airport during the initial months as ground teams adjust.
– Keep return or onward tickets handy for border checks.
– Bring printed copies of hotel bookings, invitations, or business letters if asked.
For businesses:
– Compare total landed cost between direct and multi-stop options.
– Reserve cargo space for time-sensitive shipments before peak periods.
– Map onward connections and update travel policies to favor nonstop travel where possible.
Conclusion: a test of execution
The return of direct Nigeria–Brazil flights is about more than planes and timetables—it’s about two regions choosing a shorter line between them: fewer stops, fewer chances for plans to fall apart, more chances for families to reunite and businesses to grow.
The BASA signed in Brasília has equipped industry to make that happen. The next test is execution. With a launch window set for late November or early December and an initial plan for three weekly frequencies, the pieces are in place. As schedules publish and tickets go on sale, travelers will vote with their bookings—and the Lagos–São Paulo bridge will either become routine or the first step in a wider South Atlantic network.
This Article in a Nutshell
Nigeria and Brazil signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) in Brasília on August 25, 2025, enabling direct commercial flights between Lagos and São Paulo. Air Peace conducted a demonstration flight and plans to launch three weekly services from late November or early December, with potential connections to Rio de Janeiro and future frequency increases. The nonstop service reduces travel times from over 20 hours to about 7 hours, improving reliability and lowering costs for passengers and shippers. Cavertin will handle cargo operations, and Nigeria ordered Embraer jets to bolster capacity. The agreement aims to deepen economic, cultural, and academic ties while maintaining existing visa and entry rules. Success depends on consistent schedules, competitive fares, effective consular support, and smooth ground operations. If demand grows, the BASA could catalyze broader South–South connectivity and regional integration.
