Nigeria’s Airlines will benefit from new UAE agreement
Nigeria has signed a new bilateral air service agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The signing of the new BASA is seen as a major step forward for the Nigerian aviation industry, which has faced challenges in recent years. The agreement, which was negotiated by the Minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo himself, aims to restore and strengthen the relationship between the two countries, with significant benefits for Nigerian travelers and local airlines.
According to Keyamo while speaking with aviation reporters at Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos on arrival from the UAE, the new agreement allows for code-sharing between Nigerian airlines and Emirates, with local operators having the right of first refusal.
This means that Nigerian airlines will have the opportunity to partner with Emirates on routes to the UAE and beyond, increasing competition and reducing prices for passengers.
The agreement also secures routes for Nigerian airlines to fly to any destination in the UAE, including Dubai International Airport (DXB), Sharjah International Airport, and Etihad Airport in Abu Dhabi, providing more options for Nigerian travelers and increase competition on international routes.
Keyamo emphasized that the agreement is a win-win for both countries, stating that “we secured that any airport, in fact I will put it accurately that we are also free to fly to any airport in the UAE. They have Sharjah, they have the Etihad, they also have the DXB. So we have, we insisted on that.”
The minister also listed the benefits of the agreement for Nigerian airlines, saying that “we want more airlines to come to Nigeria to fly locally, regionally and internationally. We want to empower our local operators to be able to service this route and also compete favorably with some of these big airlines that we are inviting into Nigeria.”
The agreement is expected to boost competition, reduce prices, and increase connectivity between Nigeria and the UAE. In a related news, the Nigerian government has also taken steps to restore confidence in the country’s aviation ecosystem and leasing industry.
The government has implemented the practice direction of the Cape Town Convention, which aims to increase transparency and reduce the risk of aircraft leasing in Nigeria. The government has also announced plans to roll out the Idera, a new system that will further increase compliance scores and empower local operators.
