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On Wednesday, Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, announced that the long-awaited return of Emirates Airlines to Nigeria after a two-year hiatus is expected to foster healthy competition in the airline industry. He emphasized that this development will ultimately benefit Nigerian consumers through more competitive pricing and improved services.
Keyamo made these remarks upon landing in Lagos on an Emirates flight from the United Arab Emirates, emphasizing that the airline’s return signifies a commitment to the Nigerian market. He also highlighted that the Bilateral Air Service Agreement discussed is intended to secure essential routes for local carriers, promoting fair competition and enhancing air travel services.
“We signed a new BASA defining our relationship altogether, again making it healthier, more open, and for the benefit of the Nigerian people,” 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.”
He clarified that local carriers have been granted the flexibility to operate flights to any destination in the UAE, a move that will significantly broaden their operational capabilities and enhance competition within the aviation sector.
“It was especially damaging because we know that Nigerians have a lot of investments in the UAE. They have many interests and investments there, so eventually, it was not an adventure in self-glorification; it was a fight for the people of Nigeria, especially.
“But you also know that the reason we fought for this is that Dubai, in particular, is a major hub of the world; it links virtually every country,” he added.
Read also: 50% IGR Deduction: Keyamo To Meet With Aviation Unions
The suspension of flight operations by Emirates Airlines to Nigeria in November 2022 was primarily driven by the airline’s inability to repatriate $85 million in trapped revenue, a situation that has raised concerns about the operational viability of international airlines in the Nigerian market.Keyamo stated in April that he had received a letter from Emirates Airlines, which confirmed that all previous concerns had been addressed, allowing the airline to move forward with plans to restart its flight services to Nigeria.
To resolve the issue, both Nigeria and the UAE on September 27, agreed on reciprocal rights ahead of the resumption of Emirates Airlines’ flight operations to Nigeria.
