ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)– Twenty-three months after suspending operations in Nigeria, Emirates Airlines has announced its readiness to resume direct flight services from its base in Dubai to the country.
In a statement issued on Thursday, May 16, by its media consultant in Nigeria, the airline confirmed that it would resume flight services from October 1, 2024.
Emirates had suspended flight operations to Nigeria in November 2022 due to difficulties in repatriating $85 million in revenue trapped in the country.
This was the second suspension following an earlier halt in August 2022 over similar issues.
According to the statement, the airline will resume with a daily service between Lagos and Dubai, offering customers increased connectivity between the two cities. The service will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER.
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Flight EK783 is scheduled to depart Dubai at 09:45hrs and arrive in Lagos at 15:20hrs. The return flight, EK784, will leave Lagos at 17:30hrs and arrive in Dubai at 05:10hrs the next day.
The Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, expressed delight at the resumption of services between the two countries.
He noted that the Lagos-Dubai route had always been popular with customers in Nigeria and looked forward to reconnecting leisure and business travelers to Dubai and beyond, covering a network of over 140 destinations.
“We thank the Nigerian government for their partnership and support in re-establishing this route and we look forward to welcoming passengers back onboard,” Kazim added.
With the resumption of operations to Nigeria, Emirates will operate to 19 gateways in Africa with 157 flights per week from Dubai.
The airline will also extend its reach to an additional 130 regional points in Africa through codeshare and interline partnerships with South African Airways, Airlink, Royal Air Maroc, and Tunis Air, among others.
As a major economic hub in Africa, Nigeria has developed strong bilateral trade relations with the UAE, especially through Lagos as the nation’s commercial center. With the daily passenger flights, Emirates SkyCargo, the airline’s cargo arm, will enhance this relationship by offering more than 300 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity in and out of Lagos every week.
Emirates SkyCargo will support Nigerian businesses by exporting goods via its state-of-the-art hub in Dubai to key markets such as the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Bahrain.
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Key commodities include kola nuts, food and beverages, and urgent courier material. Additionally, it will import vital goods such as pharmaceuticals and electronics from markets like the UAE, India, and Hong Kong.
The Emirates Boeing 777-300ER serving Lagos will feature eight First Class suites, 42 Business Class seats, and 304 seats in Economy Class.
Passengers can enjoy regionally inspired multi-course menus developed by award-winning chefs, complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages, ensuring the best experience in the sky.