Emirates return to Nigeria two years after

After two years of pulling out of Nigeria, the Emirates Airlines flight has returned to the country.

The airline’s aircraft landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Tuesday.

Emirate stopped coming to Nigeria after its revenues totalled $85m in August 2022 was blocked by the Nigerian government over lack of forex.

At the time of filing this report, the funds have successfully been repatriated.

Following several diplomatic meetings between the Nigerian and the United Arab Emirates governments, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, also led a high-level Nigerian delegation to UAE on Friday to finalise negotiations ahead of the resumption of the airline’s operations in Nigeria.

The meeting also settled a new Bilateral Air Service Agreement between both nations to ensure stronger and mutually beneficial aviation ties.

PUNCH Online correspondent who visited the airport on Tuesday, saw arriving passengers being processed at the old terminal of MMIA.

Arriving passengers are currently using the old terminal while departing passengers will be processed at the new terminal.

Our correspondent gathered that although scanty passengers flew the airline, passengers commended the airline services.

PUNCH Online earlier reported that the airline had announced its resumption to Nigeria from October 1, 2024.

The relaunch flight with the number EK 783 was welcomed by a water cannon salute.

Commenting on the development, President of the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria, Kingsley Nwokoma, expressed joy with the return of the airline saying the development will be a win-win for both Nigerian and the UAE.

“We are happy with their return and we believe that with the return of their operations now, Air Peace too will be able to fly to the UAE because I understand they stopped because of the UAE visa ban on Nigerians.

“The more, the merrier and with this, they have also given more options to the flying public, Emirate is welcome back,” Nwokoma stated.