Tag: International Flights

Trapped funds: Emirates suspends flights into Nigeria indefinitely

Aminu Imam

Emirates airline has disclosed plans to suspend operations into Nigeria indefinitely from 29th October, 2022. In an issued statement yesterday, the airline said it has no option but to suspend flights to/from Nigeria from 29 October, to mitigate against further losses moving forward. Already, any attempt to book a flight from Abuja and Lagos on the Emirates portal yields a negative result and an automatic non-availability message. “We hope to reach a mutual resolution with the Nigerian government around the repatriation of blocked funds to enable the resumption of operations…

Read More

Economic crimes: Travel agents rent out Int’l Air tickets for fake travellers to buy BTA

Aminu Imam

Tough times await travel agencies involved in the crime of issuing air tickets to unscrupulous people for the fraudulent purchase of Business Travel Allowance, (BTA), with same tickets subsequently voided once the fraud has been committed.  Reports indicate that henceforth, such travel agencies may not only have their operating licenses withdrawn, but the travellers involved in the fraud may also risk being listed on the aviation security ‘no-fly list’ shared with the government security agencies on the aviation (airports/airlines) security defence layers.  The latest is coming after the International Air…

Read More

International flights resume at Abuja airport

Ishaku Yohanna

International flights resumed at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja, on Monday, when an Airbus A350 aircraft operated by Ethiopian Airlines taxied to a halt at the airport terminal. The aircraft with registration number ET-AUC, which took off from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport with 180 passengers onboard, landed at the NAIA at about 2pm and was received to a water cannon reception. This is coming more than five months after the closure of the Nigerian airspace to scheduled international flights due to lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.…

Read More

First international flight lands in Lagos after COVID-19 lockdown

Ishaku Yohanna

There was palpable joy on Saturday as the first international flight landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this was coming after five months of closure of the Nigerian airspace due to the lockdown occasioned by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Middle East Airline (MEA), which took off from Beirut, Lebanon, made history as the first international flight to land anywhere in the country as it touched down at the MMIA at exactly 2.30p.m. The aircraft was ceremonially welcomed with…

Read More

Nigeria restarts international flights with Middle East Airlines Saturday – FAAN

Ishaku Yohanna

As Nigeria reopens its airspace for international travel, three airlines will operate flights into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Saturday, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has said. FAAN Managing Director, Capt Rabiu Yadudu, who made this known on Friday during an inspection tour by the Lagos State Government to check the readiness of the airport, said the first flight will be operated by Middle East Airlines. “We are expecting three airlines tomorrow starting with Middle East Airlines, around 2pm,” the FAAN boss said. Two other airlines including…

Read More

NCAA approves Lagos, Abuja airports to resume international flights on September 5

Ishaku Yohanna

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, and Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, as the two airports allowed to resume international flight operations as from September 5, 2020. NCAA made this known in a letter with ref NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/255 to all aviation stakeholders and foreign airlines operating in Nigeria. The letter signed by Director-General of the NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, stated that other airports would be gradually reopened, stressing, however, that the two would have to adhere to existing COVID-19 protocols for approvals. The letter…

Read More

Why FG moves resumption of int’l flights to Sept 5

Ishaku Yohanna

The Federal Government has shifted resumption of international flights billed for August 29 to September 5. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) announced this on Thursday. The resumption date was earlier billed for August 27. The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Musa Nuhu, explained that the resumption was postponed to ensure all non-aviation logistics are put in place. Nuhu while speaking at the bi-weekly Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing, on Thursday, said this is to ensure the smooth and efficient resumption of the flights. “Since the announcement…

Read More

COVID-19: Nigeria resumes international flights August 29

Ishaku Yohanna

Nigeria is gearing up to resume international flights in and out of the country after shutting down its airport in March to curb the spread of Covid-19. According to a statement released Monday by the Ministry of Aviation, flights will resume August 29 from Lagos, the West African nation’s commercial hub, and Abuja, its capital city. Travel within other cities will follow at a later date, the ministry said. Minister for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, announced during a televised briefing on Monday that Nigeria’s international airports have reached advanced stages of…

Read More