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Tag: Emirates Airlines

  • Emirates, Air Peace sign global agreement

    Emirates, Air Peace sign global agreement

    Emirates Airlines and Air Peace have activated a bilateral interline agreement intended to expand air connectivity between Africa, the United Arab Emirates and key international destinations.

    As part of a broader strategy to build on the existing partnership between the world’s largest international airline and West Africa’s largest carrier, the agreement offers passengers of both airlines frictionless, single-ticket travel and simplified baggage handling on select routes, resulting in greater travel comfort and convenience for customers.

    In a statement, the carriers said beyond the 13 cities in Nigeria already available for Emirates passengers on Air Peace’s network, the enhanced interline agreement now enables travellers to connect with Banjul, Gambia and Dakar, Senegal, via Abidjan ,  Freetown, Sierra Leone and Monrovia, Liberia, via Accra.

    The additional gateways ,the statement added allow more passengers to access Emirates world-class product and services, and vast global network.

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    It said :” The agreement allows Air Peace to connect its extensive West and Central African route system into Emirates’ hub in Dubai, and on key destinations including London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London Stansted, Abidjan, Accra and, of course, Lagos. With huge demand for travellers from Nigeria into the UK, the additional flight options provide more choice for Air Peace passengers.”

    Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said, “Enhancing our interline partnership with Air Peace allows us to expand our footprint across more of Africa, creating new opportunities for people to fly better with Emirates, while helping international tourists explore more of the region, via Lagos. We remain committed to working with strategic partners such as Air Peace to further strengthen Nigeria’s aviation, tourism and trade sectors.”

    Speaking on the partnership, Nowel Ngala, Chief Commercial Officer of Air Peace, said, “This partnership with Emirates is a strategic step in Air Peace’s vision to connect Africa more efficiently to the world. By integrating our regional strength with Emirates’ global reach, we are providing our passengers with seamless connections, shorter travel times, and a more comfortable end-to-end journey. It reinforces our commitment to making Air Peace a strong bridge between Africa and the global aviation market.”

  • Emirates Airlines unveils plans for return

    Emirates Airlines unveils plans for return

    Two years after it suspended operations over trapped funds accruing from ticket sales and other sundry factors, Emirates Airlines has concluded plans to relaunch flights into the country.

    To secure its place on the Nigerian route, considered as one of its major markets, the airline has embarked on a series of strategies , including engagement of stakeholders  in the travel trade industry in a workshop to unveil its latest products and services in addition to provision of updates on Dubai.

    These measures, a statement by the carrier said, is part of measures preparatory for market dominance as it relaunches flights into and out Lagos  on October1, 2024.

    According to the statement, the engagement by the carrier is part of the strategies to demonstrate the importance of Nigeria in the airline’s vast global network

    The carrier said the new measure became imperative to familiarise stakeholders with the products and services on offer in addition to empowering them to provide improved services to passengers.

    The airline also highlighted its full-service offerings including gourmet and regionally-inspired dining, the award-winning in-flight entertainment system, ice, and the exceptional hospitality from its multinational Cabin Crew. Emirates Holidays, the airline’s tour operator arm, exhibited the curated holiday packages both to Dubai and other in-demand destinations such as the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia and South Africa, in preparation to serve the pent-up travel demand from Nigeria.

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    Attendees also heard from key stakeholders representing Destination Dubai, to provide a macro view at what travellers can expect when travelling to and through the UAE. Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) representatives offered a closer look at the abundance of tourism and trade opportunities in Dubai; the Dubai Stopover Experience team highlighted some of the must-see attractions; the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) outlined the city as a leading medical tourism destination; and Dubai Visa Processing Centres provided a closer look at how to apply for UAE visas, both for tourists and those transiting the city.

    The information packed sessions at the Emirates Airline Travel Agency Workshop demonstrate the airline’s commitment to reinstating seamless and premium travel between Nigeria, the UAE and beyond, powered by Emirates.

    Paulos Legesse, Country Manager for Nigeria, Emirates said, “Our travel agency partners are core to our success and we have built strong and prosperous relationships over the years, driving greater tourism and travel links between Nigeria, the UAE and beyond. As we prepare to restart operations to Lagos, this workshop was essential not just to showcase our world-class product and service to these important partners, but also to hear from the wider industry on the latest services that will suit customer demand, enabling us to better tailor our offering in Nigeria. We have exciting plans and can’t wait to add our industry-leading products and services to the Nigerian market from 1 October.”

    In addition to preparing travel agents for the airline’s return, Emirates has reinstated previous tier status levels for Skywards members to ensure continuation of earned benefits and recognition.

  • Emirates Airlines restores flights Oct 1

    Emirates Airlines restores flights Oct 1

    Twenty-three months after suspending operations to Nigeria, Emirates Airlines has indicated its readiness to return direct flight services from its base in Dubai to the country. The airline in a statement obtained by The Nation, said that it would resume flight services from October 1, 2024.

    The airline had in November 2022, suspended flights operations into the country over its failure to repatriate its $85 million revenue trapped in the country. The suspension was the second time the airline halted flights to the West African country over its unrepatriated funds — the first time was in August, 2022. The statement hinted that this service would be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER.

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    Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President, expressed delight with the return of flight services between the two countries.

    “We thank the Nigerian government for their partnership and support in re-establishing this route and we look forward to welcoming passengers back onboard.

  • UPDATED: Emirates Airlines returns to Nigeria Oct 1

    UPDATED: Emirates Airlines returns to Nigeria Oct 1

    Twenty-three months after suspending operations in Nigeria, Emirates Airlines has indicated its readiness to return direct flight services from its base in Dubai to the country.

    The airline in a statement issued on Thursday, May 16, by its media consultant in Nigeria, said that it would resume flight services from October 1, 2024.

    The airline had in November 2022, suspended flight operations to Nigeria over its failure to repatriate the $85 million revenue trapped in the country.

    The suspension was the second time the airline halted flights to the West African country over its unrepatriated funds — the first time was in August 2022.

    But, the airline in a statement on Thursday, said I would resume with a daily service between Lagos and Dubai, thereby offering customers more choice and connectivity from the two cities.

    The statement hinted that this service would be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER.

    It explained that EK783 would depart Dubai at 09:45hrs, arriving in Lagos at 1520hrs; the return flight EK784 would leave Lagos at 17:30hrs and arrive in Dubai at 05:10hrs the next day.

    Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President, expressed delight with the return of flight services between the two countries.

    Kazim noted that the Lagos-Dubai service had traditionally been popular with customers in Nigeria and hoped to reconnect leisure and business travellers to Dubai and onwards to its network of over 140 destinations.

    “We thank the Nigerian government for their partnership and support in re-establishing this route and we look forward to welcoming passengers back onboard,” he added.

    With the resumption of operations to Nigeria, Emirates operates to 19 gateways in Africa with 157 flights per week from Dubai, with further reach to an additional 130 regional points in Africa through its codeshare and interline partnerships with South African Airways, Airlink, Royal Air Maroc, Tunis Air, among others.

    As a major economic hub in Africa, Nigeria and the UAE have built strong bilateral trade relations over the years, headlined by Lagos as the nation’s commercial centre.

    With the resumption of daily passenger flights, the airline’s cargo arm, Emirates SkyCargo, will further bolster the trade relationship by offering more than 300 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity, in and out of Lagos every week.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Emirates Airlines to resume operations in Nigeria October 1

    Emirates SkyCargo would also support Nigerian businesses by exporting their goods via its state-of-the-art hub in Dubai, into key markets such as the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Bahrain, among others with key anticipated commodities such as Kola Nuts, food and beverages, and urgent courier material.

    Emirates SkyCargo would further import vital goods such as pharmaceuticals and electronics as well as general cargo from key markets such as the UAE, India, and Hong Kong.

    Keeping trade flowing seamlessly, these goods would be transported quickly, efficiently, and reliably via the airline’s multi-vertical specialized product portfolio.

    The Emirates Boeing 777-300ER serving Lagos would operate with eight First Class suites, 42 Business Class seats, and 304 seats in Economy Class.

    Offering the best experience in the sky, passengers can dine on regionally inspired multi-course menus developed by a team of award-winning chefs complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages.

  • BREAKING: Emirates Airlines to resume operations in Nigeria October 1

    BREAKING: Emirates Airlines to resume operations in Nigeria October 1

    Emirates Airlines has announced that it would resume operations in Nigeria on October 1, 2024.

    The airline made this announcement in a post on its official X page on Thursday, May 16.

    Read Also: Emirates Airlines halts flights to Nigeria over trapped funds

    Emirates wrote: “We’re back, Nigeria! We’ll be resuming services to Lagos from 1 October 2024, and we can’t wait to offer unrivalled connectivity to Dubai and beyond to over 140 cities.”

    Details shortly…

  • Emirates celebrates passengers on Valentine’s Day

    Emirates  Airlines said it  will celebrate  the season of love with  Nigerian passengers  on board and across its lounges worldwide on  Valentine’s Day.

    The  airline said the celebrations will kick off in Emirates’ network of lounges, and climax on-board with a refreshed Valentine’s Day offering to create a memorable travel experience for customers.

    Nigerian Travellers who coincidentally are in Dubai on Valentine’s Day and planning to fly by Emirates will be hosted to a treat at the Emirates First and Business Class lounges in Dubai between February 13 and February 15.

    The carrier said passengers  will enjoy Valentine’s champagne treat with the lively and generous notes of Moet & Chandon Rosé Imperial ; a selection of Valentine’s inspired cakes and desserts.

    The airline said Nigerian Travellers who will be present at the any of the Emirates’ network of 42 lounges worldwide during the period,  will benefit from Emirates’ chefs meals, one of which is the heart shaped culinary creations.

    A statement by the airline reads: “While on-board the Emirates flight, the Nigerian customers will be treated with meals seasoned with a touch of romance to complement the regionally inspired cuisine. On Valentine’s Day itself, Emirates will serve a special selection of desserts on longer flights across its network. Snack baskets in First Class will feature strawberry & cream flavoured Lakrids liquorice.

    “At the First and Business class, customers can choose a Strawberry feuilletine with layered white chocolate mousse and strawberry jelly decorated with hearts for an after meal treat, while Economy Class, customers will be served a dark chocolate mousse topped with candied hearts for dessert.

    “‘ice’, Emirates’ award winning inflight entertainment system will also get travellers in the Valentine’s mood. Nigerian Travellers can get to watch the highly celebrated Nollywood movie ‘The Royal Hibiscus Hotel’ (Nigeria), a romantic movie produced by the makers of the ‘Wedding Party’. The movie starred top Nollywood actors and actresses such as Zainab Balogun, Kenneth Okolie, and Jide Kosoko, amongst others.

    “ Similarly, they can get entertained with other African movies such as ‘Supa Modo’, Kenya’s 2019 Oscar submission in the Best Foreign Film category, ‘I Am Not A Witch’ (Zambia), ‘Farewell Ella Bella’ (South Africa), to mention but a few.

  • Alleged $1.6m theft: Trial of airline, others resumes tomorrow

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned till tomorrow and Wednesday further proceedings in the trial of Emirates Airlines and six others.

    They were charged with conspiracy and stealing of four bags from a passenger Prince Chu Ikem Orji. One of the missing bags contained $1, 630,000million, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) said.

    Named in the 11-count charge are Emirates Airlines, Pathfinders International Limited, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, Abayomi Adekambi Abiola, Isiaka Adedeji, Awonubi Abayomi, George Ipekhia and others at large.The prosecution said they conspired on December 19, 2007 at Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja to commit a felony by stealing four bags tagged EK 428682, EK 428583, EK 650162, EK 650161.

    Prosecuting counsel Mike O’Osong said they collected the bags from Orji after promising that they would keep them intact for onward delivery to him at Guangzhou China, but failed to do so.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge which the police said contravened Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act of 2004.

    On June 21, 2012, Emirates Airlines and six others filed motion to quash the charge on the ground that there was no prima facie (evident) case against them.

    Justice Mohammed Idris dismissed the application, following which they appealed. But, the Court of Appeal upheld Justice Idris’ refusal to quash the charge and dismissed the appeal.

     

  • Foreign airline’s flight reduction, a blessing – Expert

    Foreign airline’s flight reduction, a blessing – Expert

    A former President of the Aviation Round Table (ART), Capt. Dele Ore, on Wednesday, said that the reduction of flight operations in Nigeria by some foreign airlines was a blessing in disguise.

    Ore, who made the assertion in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, urged indigenous airlines to take advantage of the move to secure a greater share of the market.

    Recall that two foreign airlines, Emirates Airlines and Kenya Airways recently announced the suspension of their flights to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    While Emirates Airlines said it would stop the flights to Abuja effective Oct. 22, Kenya Airways said its flights to the nation’s capital would be suspended from Nov. 15.

    Both airlines had attributed their decisions to the economic downturn in the country, foreign exchange scarcity and the shrinking passenger traffic on international routes.

    However, Ore said the restriction on foreign exchange by the Federal Government had exposed the antics of some foreign airlines in the country.

    He said: “How many Nigerians are employed by them? It’s all capital flight. If the government didn’t do that, we will not know how much money is leaving our economy but now it is obvious.

    “The ones who feel that because they cannot repatriate their funds are free to go back to their countries.

    “This is what will encourage the Nigerian government to support indigenous airlines’’.

    Ore also called for the review of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASAs) entered by Nigeria with some countries which had been having a negative effect on domestic airlines.

    “Today, we have no share of the market. Foreign carriers have 97 percent of the passenger traffic in this country, while Nigerian carriers have only three per cent.

    “So, it is difficult for Nigerian airlines to survive except government reviews some of its policies, especially the BASAs which allows for multiple entries for foreign airlines.

    “In the past, foreign carriers were only allowed one entry into the country which helped to strengthen the operations of domestic airlines.

    “But now, a foreign airline is allowed to go to Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano and Port Harcourt with 21 frequencies and modern aircraft, so, it is difficult for Nigerian carriers to compete.

    “For them to do that, they will require nothing less than 50 modern aircraft, so the policy from the government must change first and foremost,’’ he said.

  • Emirates deploys Boeing 777 on Lagos route

    Emirates deploys Boeing 777 on Lagos route

    Emirates Airlines is responding to strong passenger and cargo demand in Nigeria, by upgrading one of its Lagos flights to a Boeing 777-300.

    The Airbus 340-500 deployed on one of Lagos’ two daily flights, EK781, will be replaced with a larger Boeing 777-300ER from December 1, 2012 giving a 48 per cent boost to seat capacity.

    “Deploying a Boeing 777 on the Dubai-Lagos route demonstrates the strong demand from travellers to fly with Emirates and experience our superior products and services,” said Jean Luc Grillet, Senior Vice-President of Commercial Operations for Africa.

    “The aircraft upgrade will open up more seats to our customers travelling to and from Nigeria and further raise Emirates’ contribution to Nigeria’s economy.”

    The aircraft passengers will enjoy Emirates’ award-winning ‘ice’ Digital Widescreen, the industry’s most sophisticated video and audio system, offering 1,400 channels of on-demand entertainment – the largest selection of programming in the sky.

    “With the introduction of this larger aircraft, we will offer over 10,000 seats every week to and from Lagos.This aircraft upgrade will offer travellers from West Africa markets seamless connections to the Indian Subcontinent, East Asia and Australasia, via Emirates Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport,” Jean Luc added.

    Nigeria has been part of Emirates’ route network since January 2004,when services were launched between Dubai and Lagos with four flights a week. From December 1, this year the Dubai-Lagos service will be operated twice a day by a Boeing 777 aircraft in a three-class configuration that offers 12 luxury First Class seats, 42 seats in Business Class and generous space for 310 passengers in Economy Class.

    The Boeing 777-300ER is the backbone of the Emirates fleet, with 91 in service and a further 72 on order.

    Emirates has a fleet of 189 aircraft and are the world’s largest A380 and Boeing 777 operator, flying to 126 destinations in 74 countries.