Emirates Airlines, the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has resumed flight operations to Nigeria.
The development comes almost two years after the airline grounded the aircraft.
The airline’s plane landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Tuesday afternoon.
Flight EK 783, which had flown for more than eight hours, landed at MMIA at 3:32 p.m.
In November 2022, Emirates Airlines suspended flights to Nigeria, citing an inability to repatriate $85 million in revenue trapped in the country.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced on April 8, 2024 that he had received a letter from the airline confirming that all issues have been resolved and it is ready to resume operations.
On September 27, Nigeria and the UAE agreed on mutual rights ahead of the resumption of Emirates Airlines flights to Nigeria.
Commenting on the outcome of the meeting, Keyamo said the discussions reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to fostering a balanced and positive partnership with the UAE.
“We are pleased to have secured interoperability rights for Nigerian airlines. This will not only deepen the relationship between our countries, but also strengthen the international competitiveness of Nigeria’s aviation industry,” Keyamo said.
As Emirates Airlines returns to Nigeria, Mr. Keyamo said Nigeria looks forward to a prosperous and mutually beneficial air services relationship.
