The management of Emirates Airline has fixed August, 2014 for the commencement of daily passenger flights to Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airports, Kano.
This follows the approval granted to the airline by the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
In a letter to the Aviation Minister, Stella Adaeze Oduah dated February 03, 2014 and signed by Salem Obaidalla, Senior Vice President, Aeropolitical and Industry Affairs, Emirates Airlines, the Carrier expressed gratitude to the federal government for the continued support and assistance extended to it throughout the period it has been operating in Nigeria.
The Senior Vice President disclosed that the flights will be operated ”in accordance with the existing UAE-Nigeria agreement on air services, with four weekly flights routed Dubai-Abuja-Kano-Dubai and three weekly flights routed Dubai-Kano-Abuja-Dubai, without carriage of domestic traffic (cabotage) between Abuja and Kano”.
Obaidalla further assured that Emirates Airline ”remains fully committed to the Nigerian market and to provide Nigerian travellers the best possible service”.
Commenting on the development, Oduah expressed joy that passengers from Abuja, Kano and other parts of the North who patronise Emirates would have the airline’s services brought to their doorsteps, and pledged to continue to partner Emirates and other airlines to deliver the best possible service to air travellers in the country. ”I am particularly delighted with this development”, the Minister enthused.
