UAE grants Air Peace direct flight approval to Dubai, Emirates Airline to resume operations soon

UAE grants Air Peace direct flight approval to Dubai, Emirates Airline to resume operations soon

 The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has granted approval to Nigeria's Air Peace Airline to operate direct flights to and from Dubai. This announcement was made by Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, at the conclusion of the 2023 Dubai Airshow in the UAE. During the event, Keyamo also visited the pavilions of leading aviation and aerospace industries to explore technologies that could contribute to his Five Point Agenda for the aviation industry in Nigeria.

Keyamo revealed that Emirates Airlines, which had halted operations in Nigeria due to challenges repatriating earned dollars, expressed readiness to resume direct flights to Nigeria. The minister's discussions with airline officials during the Dubai Airshow resulted in positive outcomes, with Emirates indicating its intention to commence flights to Nigeria soon.

In a statement by the Head of Press and Public Affairs in the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Odutayo Oluseyi, it was mentioned that Keyamo met with the management of Airline Executive, led by CEO Dana Hatcic. The airline expressed interest in establishing a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Nigeria.

The statement further highlighted the minister's vision for a maiden edition of the Nigeria Air Show in November 2024, making Nigeria the first African country to organize such an event.

Keyamo also used the Dubai Airshow as an opportunity to inspect modern technologies at the pavilions of leading aviation and aerospace industries. This exploration aimed at identifying innovations to support his 5-Point agenda, focusing on infrastructure improvement and the promotion of innovation and creativity in cutting-edge civil aviation technologies.

It is worth noting that Emirates suspended flights to Nigeria in November 2022, citing challenges in repatriating revenue from the country and the scarcity of foreign exchange. The airline emphasized the need for timely fund repatriation and a mechanism to ensure future repatriation, stating that the backlog of funds created operational challenges and threatened commercial viability in Nigeria.