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Celebration as Emirates returns to Nigeria Celebration as Emirates returns to Nigeria

It was a celebration galore at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja on Sunday evening as Emirates Airline touched down to resume daily services to Nigeria from Dubai. The airline which also landed simultaneouslyat  Muritala Muhhamed  International Airport Lagos amidst jubilation and symbolic  water cannon welcome at the two airports.

Upon arrival, of both flights from Dubai, EK 785 to Abuja and EK 783  to Lagos, a cake cutting ceremony was also held between Emirates officials and the airport authorities to mark the resumption of operations.

The airline also promised to deliver and consolidate on the state of the art services to its numerous customers in the country.

According to the Country Manager Nigeria, Paulos Legesse, said: “We are delighted to resume operations to and from Nigeria, and are pleased to see strong interest from our customers, reflected in robust forward bookings from the time of our announcement, as well as today’s full flights from Dubai to Abuja and Lagos.

Emirates and Airport officials cut the cake to celebrate the airline return..

” The services will also give our customers the opportunity once again to safely experience Emirates’ superior product and service, offering them convenient travel options to Dubai, an already popular destination for Nigerian travellers, as well as seamless connectivity other key cities across our network.”  The event in Abuja was attended by the airport officials including  Airport Manager,  Mahmud Sani and International Terminal Manager, Mrs Rasheedat Sule and many others.

The aircrafts deployed to both Nigerian cities were three-class Boeing 777-300ER  and it offered 8 luxurious First Class suites, 42 generous Business Class seats, and over 300 seats in Economy Class.

He added that customers across all classes were able to enjoy the airline’s regional delicacies onboard, as well as its renowned in-flight entertainment system,  ice, featuring over 4,500 channels of on-demand entertainment, including Nollywood films and content.

Emirates operates in Abuja with  EK 785  and 786.  EK 785  departs Dubai  at 1100hrs, arriving in Abuja  at 1540hrs. The return flight,  EK 786  takes off from Abuja at 1900, arriving in Dubai  at 0435hrs  the next day.  Emirates flight EK 783  to Lagos departs Dubai  at 1030hrs, arriving in Lagos  at 1540hrs. The return flight  EK 784  departs Lagos  at 1810hrs, arriving in Dubai  at 0415hrs  the next day.

Travelling to Dubai:  Ensuring the safety of travellers, visitors, and the community,  Covid-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound passengers arriving at Dubai,  including UAE citizens, residents and tourists,  irrespective of the country they are coming from. Travellers coming from Nigeria must hold a negative Covid-19 PCR test certificate for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure.

Additionally, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has specified designated laboratories for passengers departing Nigeria and travellers must obtain their certificate from one of the labs listed  here  to be accepted on the flight. Travellers coming from Nigeria will also need to take another Covid-19 PCR test on arrival at Dubai International Airport.

Since it safely resumed tourism activity in July 2020, Dubai remains one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, especially during the winter season. The city is open for international business and leisure visitors. From sun-soaked beaches and heritage activities to world-class hospitality and leisure facilities,

Dubai offers a variety of world-class experiences. It was one of the world’s first cities to obtain the Safe Travels stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) –  which endorses Dubai’s comprehensive and effective measures to ensure guest health and safety.

Dubai is currently hosting the world for Expo 2020, happening between October 2021 and March 2022. Through the theme of  Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, Expo 2020 Dubai aims to inspire people by showcasing the best examples of collaboration, innovation and cooperation from around the world.

Its programme is packed with experiences to suit all ages and interests, including a rich line-up of themed weeks, entertainment, and edutainment. Art and culture fans, as well as food and technology enthusiasts, can explore exhibits, workshops, performances, live shows and more.

Emirates continues to lead the industry with innovative products and services and recently took its customer care initiatives further with even more flexible booking policies which have been extended to 31 May 2022.

Source: independent.ng