Emirates Airlines has officially resumed its flight operations to Nigeria.
The airline’s first flight since 2022, EK 783, landed at Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) at 3:32 PM on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
The resumption comes after a two-year pause due to challenges in repatriating trapped funds from Nigeria.
Emirates Airlines had initially suspended its flights in October 2022, citing difficulties in accessing its earnings in the country.
This situation caused considerable concern for both the airline and its Nigerian customers.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the resumption via his social media account.
In his post, he shared that he had traveled on the Emirates flight along with executives from the airline and representatives from the UAE government.
“Earlier this morning in Dubai, together with Executives of Emirates Airlines and top representatives from the office of the Vice-President of the UAE, we all boarded the Emirates flight to Lagos,” Keyamo wrote.
His words highlight the importance of this partnership for both nations.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, a ceremony is planned in Lagos.
Officials from both the Nigerian and UAE governments will participate to mark the return of Emirates Airlines to Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Additionally, the event will also signify the reintroduction of Nigerian airlines to the UAE.
This renewed cooperation reflects a strengthening relationship between the two nations.
In October 2022, Emirates Airlines made the tough decision to suspend its flights to Nigeria.
The airline was facing difficulties repatriating its funds due to foreign exchange issues.
Despite assurances from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the situation remained unresolved for over a year.
This created significant challenges for travelers and businesses relying on the airline for connectivity.
In October 2023, during a diplomatic visit to the UAE, President Bola Tinubu secured an agreement with the UAE President to lift the visa ban on Nigerians.
This agreement also included the resumption of flights between the two countries.
Such diplomatic efforts are vital in facilitating international travel and trade.
By May 2024, Emirates Airlines announced its plans to return to Nigeria.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, confirmed the October 1 resumption.
This announcement generated excitement among travelers and businesses alike.
Additionally, Minister Keyamo revealed that Nigeria secured reciprocal flight rights for its airlines to operate in the UAE.
This new arrangement is a significant step toward enhancing aviation cooperation between the two nations.
Keyamo and his team recently engaged in negotiations for a new Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) during their time in the UAE.
This agreement will guide the aviation relationship between Nigeria and the UAE moving forward.
The importance of such agreements cannot be overstated, as they facilitate international travel and trade.
