Emirates Returns to Nigeria: Keyamo Insists   Agreement is Reciprocal

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Emirates’ return to Nigeria
L-R: Al Ghaith, Emirates Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East and Central Asia and Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development on Wednesday in Lagos

Minister Festus Keyamo insists that Emirates’ return to Nigeria is purely reciprocal, following the renegotiated Bilateral Air Services Agreement. Moreover, he hinted on potential agreements with local operators as the new BASA gives Nigerian airlines a right of first refusal for code shares.

Emirates resumed flights to Nigeria on October 1, 2024, after a long suspension due to trapped funds. Upon his arrival, Keyamo told reporters he had secured reciprocal rights for Nigerian operators to fly to any airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). “The first thing we did during the negotiation was secure routes for our local operators,” Keyamo said. “I’m sure you saw my statement last week.”

He emphasized that one of the key achievements was securing rights to any destination. “Our agreement allows them to fly to any destination here, and we can fly to any destination in the UAE,” he added. This arrangement ensures equal opportunities for both countries’ airlines to access prime and non-prime airports.

This review will foster healthy competition and lead to lower prices, benefitting Nigerian passengers. Keyamo further confirmed that an agreement on code sharing was reached. “We insisted that our airlines have the right of first refusal on any code-share offers from Emirates. As I speak, they are already in talks with several local operators.”

Speaking on the significance of renewed flights, Keyamo highlighted the impact of Emirates’ suspension, which led to fewer flight options and higher prices. “Other airlines took advantage of the situation by increasing their flight frequencies and ticket prices to Nigeria,” he noted. He further stressed the importance of Dubai as a global hub, making it easier for Nigerian travelers to connect to various destinations worldwide.

He said, “You also know why we fought for this; Dubai, in particular, is a major global hub. It connects virtually every country worldwide, making it a vital link for international travel. I have not seen any major country, and I use the word ‘major’ deliberately, that is not linked to Dubai.

“For Nigerian travellers, it is incredibly convenient to reach any part of the world by flying through Dubai. The ease of connecting from Dubai makes it a central gateway for many international destinations.

 

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