The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), says more international destination options will be opened for local airlines, following Emirates Airlines’ return to Nigeria after two years.

Keyamo said this on arrival aboard an Emirates aircraft from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Lagos on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.

The airline had suspended flight operations two years ago owing to trapped funds in the Nigerian coffers.

However, an Emirates aircraft, on Tuesday, October 1, touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in the Ikeja area of Lagos State, signifying the resumption of the airline’s flight operations to Nigeria.

Keyamo assured that the airline has returned to stay, saying the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) discussed was to secure the route for local operators.

The minister stated that local carriers now have the opportunity to fly to any destination in the UAE.

Keyamo said: “With this, we have more competition on different international routes now. That is what it’s all about, to ensure healthy competition.

“A healthy competition leads to competitive pricing for the benefit of the Nigerian people.

“But you also know that why we fought for this, is that Dubai in particular, is a major hub of the world, it links virtually every country.

Emirates resumes Nigerian flights after 2-year break

“For our airlines too, I can tell you that we also secured some kind of code-sharing agreement. We told them that if you want to codeshare, our airlines will have the right of first refusal.”

Keyamo applauded the support of President Bola Tinubu in the agreement and return of the airline, saying the relationship between the two countries has been restored.

The minister added: “The relationship went downhill with visa suspension and suspension of their flights for Nigerians; it was especially damaging, because we know that Nigerians have a lot of investments in the UAE.

“They have a lot of interest and investments there. So, eventually, it was not an adventure in self-glorification, it was actually a fight for the people of Nigeria especially.

“We signed a new BASA defining our relationship altogether, again making it more healthy, more open and for the benefit, especially of the Nigerian people.”

The official delegation onboard was led by Adil Al Ghaith, the airline’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East and Central Asia; David Broz, Senior Vice President of Aeropolitical and Airline Industry Affairs; and Sami Aqil Abdullah, Senior Vice President Emirates Airport Services Outstation and Business Support.

The Star