On Thursday 18th August, 2022, Emirates airline said they are taking a difficult decision of deferring all flights to and from Nigeria as from 1st September.
This is due to the inability to repatriate its $85 million revenue from Nigeria. It also reported on March that the airline lost the sum of $1.1 billion to the soaring of fuel prices. Other causes of their loss include inflation, political and economic uncertainty.
United Arab Emirates stated that the cause of the suspension is to restrict further losses on its operational costs that continued to build up in Nigeria.
The statement made by the public relation manager said on Thursday is;
“Emirates has taken the difficult decision to suspend all flights to and from Nigeria, effective 1 September 2022,” the airline said.”
He further said “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.”
He then expressed disappointment. “Regrettably there has been no progress” The airline said it will help the affected customers with travel alternatives if possible.
Currently, the House of Representatives invites the minister of finance, minister of aviation, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to intervene so as to resolve whatever they have with international airlines.
The speaker pleaded with Emirates airlines to take a hang on their decision and await the outcome of their meeting before taking any action.
