In welcome news for Nigerian travelers, Emirates Airlines, on Thursday, announced the resumption of daily flights between Lagos and Dubai starting October 1, 2024. This marks the return of a popular route that provides passengers with greater choice and connectivity.
The service will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, offering a comfortable and spacious flying experience. The outbound flight, EK783, will depart Dubai at 09:45 AM and arrive in Lagos at 3:20 PM. The return flight, EK784, will take off from Lagos at 5:30 PM and reach Dubai at 5:10 AM the next day.
“We are excited to resume our services to Nigeria,” said Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, in a press release. “The Lagos-Dubai route has traditionally been popular with our Nigerian customers, and we look forward to reconnecting them with Dubai and onwards to our extensive network of over 140 destinations.”
Emirates Airlines had suspended its Dubai-Lagos flights in 2022 over its inability to repatriate trapped funds in Nigeria in the heat of the diplomatic row between the two countries.
Nigeria and the UAE have a long history of restriction of flights between both countries based on certain unresolved issues surrounding the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA). Visa restrictions later surfaced as diplomatic fireworks continue between Nigeria and the UAE, which is a top destination for Nigerian migrants and tourists.
This resumption of service is expected to benefit both leisure and business travelers. Passengers can now book their tickets directly through Emirates’ website or via travel agents.