United Arab Emirates (UAE) carrier — Emirates Airline has rescinded its decision to suspend its Nigerian routes’ operations from September 1, 2022, following its trapped funds, which is estimated to be around $85 million.
The airline said in an email to travel agencies in Nigeria, that it would return to the Nigerian routes: Lagos and Abuja on September 11, 2022.
This decision comes exactly 10 days after suspension of operations in the country.
The decision to suspend Nigerian routes was coming less than a week the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) released the sum of $265 million to foreign airlines in the country to settle outstanding ticket sales out of the $464 million owed them.
“We are pleased to inform you that effective from 11th September 2022, we will reinstate operations of our flights.
“Inbound flights from Dubai to Lagos (EK783) and outbound flights from Lagos to Dubai (EK784) will recommence from Sunday, 11th September 2022.
“Lagos flights after 30th September, 2022 will be advised in due course,” the airline said.
Emirates had on August 18, 2022, announced the plan to suspend all flights from Nigeria effective September 1, 2022, due to what it called the challenges in repatriating its funds.
The airline had earlier in July, cut its weekly frequencies to Lagos from 11 to seven, while its three weekly flights to Abuja remained.
In a statement it forwarded to Tits clients in Nigeria, the airline had said no progress had been made in getting its funds out of Nigeria, hence the decision.
The statement read, “Emirates has tried every avenue to address our ongoing challenges in repatriating funds from Nigeria, and we have made considerable efforts to initiate dialogue with the relevant authorities for their urgent intervention to help find a viable solution.
“Regrettably, there has been no progress. Therefore, Emirates has taken the difficult decision to suspend all flights to and from Nigeria, effective 1 September 2022, to limit further losses and impact on our operational costs that continue to accumulate in the market.”
The airline apologised to its customers, noting that the situation was beyond its control and promised to help affected customers make alternative travel arrangements wherever possible.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Emirates stated it had been attempting to repatriate the sum of $85 million it alleged was stuck in Nigeria. “As of July 2022, Emirates has $85 million of funds awaiting repatriation from Nigeria.
This figure has been rising by more than $10 million every month as the ongoing operational costs of our 11 weekly flights to Lagos and 5 to Abuja continue to accumulate,” the letter read in part.
It said the blocked funds were beginning to affect the carrier’s operating costs, as well as its commercial viability, adding that it could not continue to accumulate losses in the face of the challenging coronavirus pandemic.
