Etihad Airways has announced plans to resume flight operations to Nigeria, with daily services to Lagos expected to commence between March 24 and 27, 2027, marking the airline’s return to the Nigerian market after years of absence.

The announcement was made during a meeting between an Etihad Airways delegation and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in Abuja on Thursday.

According to a statement issued by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the delegation was led by Khalid Humaid Al Ali, Etihad Airways’ Senior Vice-President for Aeropolitical, International and Government Affairs.

Other members of the delegation included Jurriaan Pieter Stelder, Senior Vice-President for Network, Alliance and Commercial Strategy; Asma Khalifa Al Mheiri, Head of Aeropolitical and Industry Affairs; and Mouza Khadem Al Ghaithi, Diplomatic Affairs Manager.

Also in attendance were the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Chris Najomo; the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku; the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Umar Farouk; and other officials of the ministry.

Speaking during the meeting, Al Ali said the airline was eager to return to Nigeria and officially informed the minister of its readiness to commence operations.

“We’ve been very eager to meet you because of the project to start flying to Nigeria. That’s why we’re here to inform you officially now that we are ready to fly to Nigeria,” Al Ali said.

He added that the airline was also receiving strong encouragement from the UAE Ambassador to begin services to Abuja.

“There’s also a lot of push from our ambassador to commence flights to Abuja. Our plan is to start Lagos between March 24 and 27, 2027.”

Al Ali disclosed that Etihad had already concluded a codeshare agreement with Air Peace as part of its Nigerian expansion strategy and would operate daily Lagos flights using its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Welcoming the airline’s planned return, Keyamo described the development as another positive outcome of the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition Nigeria’s aviation sector as an attractive destination for international airlines and investors.

He also praised the partnership between Etihad Airways and Air Peace, saying it would strengthen connectivity between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.

While acknowledging the ongoing renovation of facilities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, the minister appealed to the airline to also consider launching services to Abuja.

“Lagos is saturated, but we want to make all the space and everything available for you in Abuja,” Keyamo said.

“I want to beg you to consider Abuja. So many passengers from northern Nigeria travelling to the UAE or transiting to Saudi Arabia for Umrah and other destinations currently have to travel all the way to Lagos to board flights.”

“If you start Abuja, you will be amazed by the passenger traffic. So, we are begging you to include Abuja.”

The minister directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to facilitate all necessary arrangements for Etihad’s operations in Lagos.

Responding, FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku assured the airline that the authority would provide space for its operations at the temporary terminal while ongoing infrastructure upgrades at the airport are completed.

“Although space would be tight, every effort would be made to accommodate the airline,” Kuku said.

To accelerate preparations ahead of the airline’s return, Keyamo also ordered the establishment of a joint working committee comprising officials from the ministry, aviation agencies and Etihad Airways.

Both parties agreed to begin engagements through a virtual meeting next week to fast-track regulatory approvals, operational planning and other requirements ahead of the planned resumption of services.

The announcement follows an earlier disclosure by the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, that Etihad Airways would commence flights to Abuja later this year.

Etihad Airways first launched operations to Nigeria in July 2012 but later suspended services. While the airline has not officially stated the reason for its exit, the suspension has been widely linked to the diplomatic dispute between Nigeria and the UAE, which escalated in 2021 over visa restrictions and flight allocation disagreements.

In December 2021, the UAE barred airlines from carrying Nigerian passengers into the Emirates. Relations between both countries began to improve in 2023 following diplomatic engagements by the current administration, paving the way for the restoration of aviation ties. (AriseNews TV)

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