Bilateral Air Service Agreement Between UAE and Nigeria in Place ahead of the Emirates Airlines Flight Resumption to Nigeria.

• A meeting was held on Friday in Dubai between the Nigerian Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, with UAE aviation authorities, resulting a new Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between the two countries.
• The latest Bilateral Air Service Agreement is to ensure stronger and mutually beneficial aviation ties in anticipation of the October 1 resumption of Emirate airline’s air service operations to Nigeria.

Ahead of the resumption of the Emirates Airlines flight to Nigeria, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nigeria’s federal government have agreed on reciprocal rights; paving the way for the Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, to resume flight operations to the Middle East country.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has secured a reciprocal flight agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ahead of the October 1 resumption of Emirates Airlines’ operations to Nigeria.

This new Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between the two nations was finalized during a meeting on Friday, aimed at strengthening aviation ties for mutual benefit. The minister, along with his technical team, held discussions with UAE aviation authorities to ensure a smooth re-entry of Emirates Airlines into Nigerian airspace.

Emirates Airlines' resumption of the operations follows nearly two years of disrupted air travel between Nigeria and the UAE. In November 2022, Emirates Airlines suspended flights to Nigeria due to an inability to repatriate $85 million in revenue trapped in the country.

This suspension resulted in strained diplomatic relations, affecting tourism, business, and the broader economic ties between the two nations.

The trapped funds issue was part of a larger problem, as many foreign airlines faced challenges in repatriating revenues due to foreign exchange shortages in Nigeria. This led to a temporary halt in flight operations, causing significant inconvenience to travelers and hindering business activities between Nigeria and the UAE.

On the latest development, Special Adviser to the Minister, Tunde Moshood, said that the talks focused on enhancing collaboration and establishing guidelines for the evolving relationship in the aviation sector. Notably, a significant agreement on reciprocal rights was reached, allowing Nigerian airlines to soon commence direct flight operations to the UAE.

Keyamo highlighted that as part of the agreement, reciprocal rights would be granted to Nigerian airlines, allowing them to begin flight operations to the UAE. This development aims to ensure fairness and equality in the aviation relationship between both nations.

Minister Keyamo emphasized the importance of the agreement, stating,

“Today’s discussions reaffirm our commitment to fostering a balanced and forward-looking partnership with the UAE. We are pleased to have secured reciprocal operational rights for Nigerian airlines, which will not only deepen our bilateral ties but also strengthen the global competitiveness of Nigeria’s aviation industry. As Emirates returns to Nigeria, we look forward to a thriving and mutually beneficial air service relationship.”

This event marks a major milestone in restoring direct air travel between Nigeria and the UAE, following extensive diplomatic and technical consultations.

“The resumed flight operations by Emirates and the new BASA will play a pivotal role in promoting tourism, business, and cultural exchanges between Nigeria and the UAE, as well as fostering economic growth,” the minister said.

With Unied Arab Emirates being an important destination for the Nigerian flyers for both tourism and business, the direct flights by Emirates Airlines will provide convenience and encourage further economic activities.

Also, enabling Nigerian carriers to operate flights to the UAE will increase competition in the aviation sector, leading to better pricing and improved service quality for customers.