By Isaac Olufemi Ojo
IBADAN, Nigeria — The long-standing trek to Lagos for international departures is officially over for millions of travelers in Nigeria’s southwest.
In a move set to redraw the map of West African aviation, the first-ever direct flight from Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport (IBA) in Ibadan to London is scheduled to take to the skies today, February 18, 2026.
The inaugural departure marks the beginning of a high-stakes expansion for the Oyo State capital, with subsequent flights already locked in for February 23, 24, and 25.
For a region that has historically lived in the shadow of Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International (LOS), this is more than just a new route—it is an economic declaration of independence.
The launch follows a massive multi-phase upgrade to the Alakia-based airport, designed to bring its runways and terminal facilities up to rigorous international safety standards.
As the first engines roar to life on the Alakia tarmac today, the message to the global aviation industry is clear: Ibadan is no longer a feeder city. It’s a destination.
