Emirates Resumes Daily Flights Between Dubai and Lagos After Two-Year Suspension

Emirates Airlines has resumed its daily flights between Dubai and Lagos after a two-year suspension.

The first flight landed at Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) on October 1, coinciding with Nigeria's 64th independence anniversary.

The resumption of this route marks the end of a hiatus that began in November 2022, when Emirates suspended operations due to financial issues involving trapped funds in Nigeria and ongoing diplomatic tensions between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nigeria.

These issues were rooted in unresolved matters surrounding the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) and subsequent visa restrictions.

In a bid to mend diplomatic relations, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu met with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi in September 2023. This meeting paved the way for improved bilateral ties and the eventual resumption of flights. By May 2024, Emirates announced that it would restart its daily Dubai-Lagos flights from October 1, 2024. Further easing travel restrictions, an agreement was reached in July, allowing Nigerian passport holders to obtain visas for travel to the UAE.