The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has granted approval to Air Peace Airline, Nigeria’s carrier, to operate direct flights to and from Dubai. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, made this announcement at the conclusion of the 2023 Dubai Airshow in the UAE. Keyamo, during his visit to the event, also explored the pavilions of leading aviation and aerospace industries, assessing technologies that could contribute to advancing his Five Point Agenda for the aviation sector in Nigeria.
In addition to the approval for Air Peace, Keyamo disclosed that Emirates Airlines, which had ceased operations in Nigeria due to challenges repatriating earnings in dollars, expressed its intention to resume direct flights to Nigeria. The decision was shared after Keyamo’s meeting with the airline officials at the Dubai Airshow. A statement from the Head of Press and Public Affairs in the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Odutayo Oluseyi, conveyed the Minister’s announcement.
The statement quoted Oluseyi as saying, “Using the opportunity of the Airshow, the Honourable Minister on the sidelines met with officials of Emirates Airline to further discuss the resumption of flights by the Airline to Nigeria which has yielded positive results as the management has given assurance that the resumption of the flight would commence very soon.”
Furthermore, the minister engaged in discussions with the management of Airline Executive, led by its CEO, Dana Hatcic. The company expressed interest in establishing a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Nigeria. Keyamo hinted at the possibility of organizing the inaugural Nigeria Air Show in November 2024, positioning Nigeria as the first African country to host such an event.
The Minister’s visit to the pavilions of global aviation and aerospace industries aimed at exploring modern technologies applicable to his 5-Point agenda for the Nigerian aviation sector. The agenda primarily focuses on enhancing infrastructure, fostering innovation, and encouraging creativity in cutting-edge technologies related to civil aviation.
The Dubai Airshow, which spanned from November 13 to November 17, attracted numerous participants from across the globe, including specialists from the aviation and aerospace industry.
Recalling events from November 2022, Emirates had announced the suspension of flights to Nigeria, citing difficulties in repatriating revenue from the country. The suspension, effective from October 29, 2022, was attributed to the airline’s inability to access its blocked funds in Nigeria amid the prevailing forex scarcity.
In the statement released by Emirates management at the time, they stated, “Under these extraordinary circumstances, Emirates had no option but to suspend flights to/from Nigeria from 29 October 2022 to mitigate against further losses moving forward.” The airline emphasized the urgency of timely fund repatriation and the need for a mechanism to prevent future accumulations, highlighting the impact on operational costs and the commercial viability of their operations in Nigeria.
In conclusion, these recent developments signal positive strides in the aviation sector, with the approval for Air Peace and the potential resumption of Emirates flights contributing to the broader efforts to enhance Nigeria’s aviation landscape. The engagements and discussions held during the Dubai Airshow not only address immediate concerns but also set the stage for potential advancements and collaborations in the future.
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