The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, recently disclosed that Emirates Airlines is on the brink of revealing the much-anticipated date for the recommencement of its flights. Keyamo conveyed this update via his official Twitter account on Sunday.
Emirates suspended its flight operations to Nigeria due to challenges in accessing funds generated from ticket sales. It was reported last week that approximately 90 percent of foreign airlines’ $783 million trapped funds in Nigeria remained unpaid. According to data from the International Air Transport Association, Nigeria accounted for a substantial portion of these blocked funds as of August 2023.
Efforts have been underway to address the situation, with Keyamo engaging in productive discussions with the top leadership of Emirates Airlines during the Dubai Airshow last week. The minister expressed optimism about the progress made, indicating that the talks were warm and fruitful. He highlighted the dedication of all parties involved in reaching an agreement and acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s pivotal role in championing the initiative.
Keyamo said that a positive outcome from the collaborative efforts is expected, with an imminent announcement of the exact date for the resumption of Emirates flights. This development is poised to bring relief to travellers eagerly awaiting the reopening of this vital international route. “We are presently working on the small details, and the airline will soon announce the exact date of their flight resumption,” Keyamo assured.
