By Uche Amunike
Two years after suspending operations to Nigeria over diplomatic impasse and non-repatriation on its revenues, the United Arab Emirates flag carrier, Emirates flight, resumed operations in Lagos, as its flight EK 783 landed at the old terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) at precisely 3.32pm, Tuesday.
With this resumption of operations, the airline is expected to operate on a daily basis between Lagos and Dubai, giving customers more choice and connectivity from Nigeria‘s largest city, Lagos, to Dubai.
Last week, the Nigerian government had an agreement on reciprocal rights with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the mega carrier, Emirates airlines prepared to resume operations. This indicates that Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, which had before then operated the route, can also resume flight operations to the Middle East country.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has also reached an agreement with the UAE aviation authorities on a new Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), between the two countries.
Hear him: ‘Crucially, the negotiations also yielded a significant agreement on reciprocal rights, ensuring that Nigerian airlines will soon have the opportunity to commence direct flight operations to the UAE.’
He further stated that this would bring about a historic development in the Nigerian aviation industry, as it would expand international connectivity and offer more options to travellers between the two nations.
According to an announcement made by the Emirates Airline, its Service to Nigeria will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER.EK783 and would depart Dubai at 0945 hrs and arrive Lagos at 1520 hrs. The return flight, EK784 would depart Lagos at 1730 hrs and arrive Dubai at 0510hrs, the day after.
Nigeria and the UAE have built strong bilateral relations over the years as a major economic hub in Africa, headlined by Lagos as the nation’s commercial centre.
With the Emirates flight resumption in Lagos, their cargo arm, Emirates SkyCargo, will also further strengthen the trade relationship by offering over 300 tonnes of bellyhold cargo capacity, in and out of Lagos on a weekly basis.
According to the airline, the Emirates SkyCargo will support Nigerian businesses by exporting their goods through its state-of-the-art hub in Dubai, into key markets like the UAE, Malaysia, Bahrain, Hong Kong, and many others with major anticipated commodities like kolanut, food, and beverages and urgent courier material.
They are also to import vital goods, like pharmaceuticals and electronics, as well as general Cargo from key markets like the UAE, India and Hong Kong.
These goods will be transported promptly reliably and efficiently through the airline’s, multi-vertical specialized product portfolio, so as to keep trade flowing seamlessly.
The Emirate’s Boeing 777-300ER, serving Lagos, will operate with 8 First Class suites, 42 Business Class suits and 304 seats in Economy class.
Customers are entitled to over 6500 channels of global entertainment, including 23 Nigerian movies, as well as series, a lot of content on ice, Emirates award-winning, in-flight entertainment system. They can also dine on regionally inspired, multi-course menus developed by a team of award-winning chefs and also, complimented by a wide selection of premium beverages.
Recall that Emirates suspended its operations to Nigeria on October 29, 2022 indefinitely, stating that their reasons as trapped funds in Nigeria and the inability of the federal government to make dollars available to the foreign carriers to repatriate their revenues.
