By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The Sunday’s planned resumption of international flights operation in and out of Nigeria by Emirates Airline has received a huge boost as Nigerian aviation authorities have restored all the rights and privileges enjoyed by the airline at two premier international airports in Abuja and Lagos before the Federal Government slammed a ban on its operation in Nigeria early this year.
The management of the United Arab Emirate (UAE)-owned airline had few days ago announced that Emirates Airline will resume flights between Dubai and Nigerian destinations on Sunday, December 5, 2021 following the lifting of the ban on its operation by the Nigerian government last week.
Prompt News Online can confirm that Nigeria’s civil aviation authorities, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who own the airspace and run the airports have granted Emirates Airline the permission to repossess its Counters at both the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja respectively.
A top official of the airline in Lagos who pleaded anonymity said the Nigerian aviation authorities have given the airline all clear to resume flights operation in and out of Nigeria.
“I think Emirates Airline Counter issue at Abuja and Lagos airport are settled, no problem at all, as per our Counters at Murtala Mohammed International Airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport”, the staff revealed.
Also, Emirates Airline have started revalidating tickets earlier issued to passengers before the ban was imposed on the airline just as travel agents and Emirates Airline sales outlets in Nigeria have resumed tickets sale to passengers.
Meanwhile, the management of the airline on Thursday issued a press statement stressing that it will resume passenger operations between Dubai and Nigeria from December 5, 2021, mandating COVID-19 PCR tests for all inbound passengers.
It was also understood that passengers from Nigeria will take the COVID-19 PCR test within three days before departure and another test on arrival in UAE.
The statement obtained by Prompt News Online on Thursday read in parts:
“The world’s largest international airline will operate to and from its Nigerian gateways with daily flights, providing travellers from Nigeria convenient access to Dubai, which remains a highly popular holiday and business destination,”
The statement added that Emirates will fly to Abuja with EK 785 and 786, leaving Dubai at 1100hrs, arriving in Abuja at 1540hrs. The return flight, EK 786 will take off from Abuja at 1900, arriving in Dubai at 0435hrs the next day.
The airline said travelers coming from Nigeria must hold a negative COVID-19 PCR certificate for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure.
It added that passengers departing Nigeria must obtain their certificates from designated centres provided by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
“Travelers coming from Nigeria will also need to take another Covid-19 PCR test on arrival at Dubai International Airport,” the statement adds.
“Ensuring the safety of travellers, visitors, and the community, Covid-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound passengers arriving to Dubai, including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming from.”
Last Friday, the Federal Government through the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika lifted restrictions on Emirates flights almost ten months after the diplomatic discussions around COVID-19 travel requirements for Nigerian passengers.
Sirika said the airline had removed some of its travelling conditions for Nigerian passengers.
