Keyamo highlights benefits of new BASA to local operators, travellers as Emirates Airlines returns to Nigeria

*Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, affirms the Emirates Airlines, a major United Arab Emirates carrier, has returned to Nigerian skies to stay, disclosing the Bilateral Air Service Agreement discussed with Emirates is to secure the route for local airline operators

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK), Honourable Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Wednesday, October 2, 2024, said the return of Emirates Airlines to Nigeria, after a two-year interruption, would lead to healthy competitive pricing for the good of Nigerian travellers.

ConsumerConnect gathered Keyamo stated this upon his arrival aboard an Emirates aircraft from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in Lagos.

The Minister also affirmed the Arabian major carrier had returned to the Nigerian skies to stay.

He equally disclosed that the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) he had discussed with Emirates Airlines was to secure the route for Nigerian airline operators.

On New BASA and accruing benefits for Nigerian airlines, consumers

Keyamo explained: “We signed a new BASA defining our relationship altogether, again making it healthier, more open, and for the benefit of the Nigerian people.

“With this, we have more competition on different international routes now.

“That is what it’s all about to ensure healthy competition.

“A healthy competition leads to competitive pricing for the benefit of the Nigerian people.”

The minister explained that local carriers now have the opportunity to fly to any destination in the UAE.

He further noted: “It was especially damaging because we know that Nigerians have a lot of investments in the UAE.

“They have many interests and investments there, so eventually, it was not an adventure in self-glorification; it was a fight for the people of Nigeria, especially.

“But you also know that the reason we fought for this is that Dubai, in particular, is a major hub of the world; it links virtually every country.”

It is recalled that Emirates Airlines suspended flight operations to Nigeria November 2022, over the company’s inability to repatriate its $85 million revenue trapped in the country.

Keyamo, however, April 2024, announced that he received a letter from the airline confirming that all the issues had been resolved and that he was prepared to resume flights.

To resolve the issue, both Nigeria and the UAE on September 27, agreed on reciprocal rights ahead of the resumption of Emirates Airlines’ flight operations to Nigeria.

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