By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The much-awaited daily flight operations from Dubai to Lagos by Emirates Airline have resumed after several months of hiatus.
The airline operator suspended its passenger services to Lagos after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stopped issuing visas to Nigerian passport holders.
The Nigerian government had to have talks with the UAE government on ways to resolve the issues and it was later announced that flights would resume on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
At the resumption of flight operations, the Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for Gulf, the Middle East and Central Asia at Emirates, Mr Adil Al Ghaith, led the official delegation onboard of the firm to Lagos, with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, leading the Nigerian team.
Commenting on the return of services, the Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates Airline, Mr Adnan Kazim, said, “This has been a long-awaited moment, and we are excited to resume operations to Lagos, helping reconnect travellers seamlessly to and through Dubai, coupled with a consistent, world-class experience onboard.”
“We would like to thank the Nigerian authorities, including the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, as well as the UAE authorities including Salem Saeed Al Shamsi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, Abuja, Nigeria and Dr Abdulla Almandoos, Consulate General of the United Arab Emirates in Lagos, for their support.
“We are committed to making this route a success and look forward to contributing to the Nigerian aviation industry’s growth and offering travellers and businesses more choice and connectivity to key destinations across our network,” he further stated.
On his part, Mr Keyamo said, “We are pleased to welcome Emirates back to Nigeria. Emirates has become a global brand and Nigeria, being the most populous black nation in the world, is the sure destination for all major airlines in the world.
“So, this is a mutually beneficial relationship and we look forward to many years of seamless operations for the designated airlines of both countries to ply the route.”
Business Post gathered that the daily service has been scheduled to optimise connections to and from key points in Europe, the US, the Far East and the wider Middle East and GCC, streamlining business and leisure travel to and from Nigeria.
EK783 departs Dubai at 0945hrs, arriving in Lagos at 1520hrs; the return flight EK784 takes off from Lagos at 1730hrs and lands in Dubai at 0510hrs the following day.
The Dubai-Lagos service is operated with a Boeing 777-300ER, offering eight First class suites, 42 Business class seats and 304 economy class seats, with added comforts and perks in each cabin class.