After a two-year pause, Emirates Airlines has resumed its flights to Nigeria, with flight EK 783 arriving at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) on Tuesday. The plane landed at the old terminal, marking the UAE’s flag carrier’s notable return.
Senior First Officer Moha Madugu expressed his excitement on X (formerly Twitter) before the flight, saying, “Today is a very special day for me as I have the honor of operating our inaugural return flight to Lagos, Nigeria. I will proudly fly both the Emirates and Nigerian flags high. Thank you, Emirates. The flight lasted just over eight hours. #EkoOniBaje.”
Emirates had suspended its services to Nigeria in November 2022 due to difficulties in repatriating $85 million in trapped funds, following an earlier suspension in August 2022.
Travel analyst Olumide Ohunayo discussed the impact of Emirates’ absence, noting that it significantly affected Nigeria’s aviation sector. With 21 weekly flights suspended, 85% to 90% of passengers traveling beyond Dubai and the UAE were impacted, leading to increased ticket prices on international routes.
Ohunayo also mentioned that Emirates’ departure reduced competition, giving airlines like Qatar Airways, and those from Egypt and Morocco, the opportunity to raise fares. He added that the airline’s exit caused revenue losses for Nigeria’s aviation sector, affecting various service providers such as travel agencies and catering services.
The return of Emirates is expected to ease pressures on the Nigerian aviation market and restore much-needed competition in international travel.
