Photo credit: Moha Madugu
BY Bunmi Aduloju
Emirates, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) flag carrier, has resumed flight operations to Nigeria.
The development comes almost two years after the suspension of operation by the airline.
On Tuesday afternoon, the airline’s flight landed at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
The flight EK 783, which travelled for over 8 hours, touched down at the MMIA at 3:32 pm.
In November 2022, Emirates suspended flight operations to Nigeria over its inability to repatriate its $85 million revenue trapped in the country.
Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, on April 8, 2024, announced that he received a letter from the airline confirming that all the issues have been resolved and is prepared to resume flights.
On September 27, Nigeria and the UAE agreed on reciprocal rights ahead of the resumption of Emirates Airlines’ flight operations to Nigeria.
Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Keyamo said the discussions reaffirm the commitment of Nigeria to fostering a balanced and forward-looking partnership with the UAE.
“We are pleased to have secured reciprocal operational rights for Nigerian airlines, which will not only deepen our bilateral ties but also strengthen the global competitiveness of Nigeria’s aviation industry,” Keyamo said.
As Emirates returns to Nigeria, Keyamo said the country looks forward to a thriving and mutually beneficial air service relationship.
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