Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national carrier, has announced plans to resume flight operations to Nigeria, with services expected to commence in March 2027.
The plan was announced when the airline’s delegation visited Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, in Abuja, on Thursday.
According to a statement by Tunde Moshood, special adviser on media and communications to the minister, the delegation was led by Khalid Humaid Al Ali, Etihad Airways’ senior vice-president for aeropolitical, international, and government affairs.
Other members included Jurriaan Pieter Stelder, senior vice-president for network, alliance, and commercial strategy; Asma Khalifa Al Mheiri, head of aeropolitical and industry affairs; and Mouza Khadem Al Ghaithi, diplomatic affairs manager.
Also present at the meeting were Chris Najomo, director-general of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); Olubunmi Kuku, managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); Umar Farouk, managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA); and other ministry officials.
Speaking during the meeting, Al Ali said the airline is ready to enter the Nigerian market.
“We’ve been very eager to meet you because of the project to start flying to Nigeria. That’s why we’re here to inform you officially now that we are ready to fly to Nigeria,” he said.
“There’s also a lot of push from our ambassador to commence flights to Abuja. Our plan is to start Lagos between March 24 and 27, 2027.”
The airline official said Etihad had concluded a codeshare agreement with Air Peace as part of its Nigeria strategy and would operate daily flights on the route using its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
Responding, Keyamo welcomed the airline’s decision to return to Nigeria and commended its partnership with Air Peace.
He described Etihad’s planned return as another positive outcome of the federal government’s efforts to reposition the country’s aviation industry as an attractive destination for global airlines and investors.
While acknowledging ongoing terminal renovation works at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, the minister urged the airline to also consider operating flights to Abuja.
“Lagos is saturated, but we want to make all the space and everything available for you in Abuja,” Keyamo said.
“I want to beg you to consider Abuja. So many passengers from northern Nigeria travelling to the UAE or transiting to Saudi Arabia for Umrah and other destinations currently have to travel all the way to Lagos to board flights.
“If you start Abuja, you will be amazed by the passenger traffic. So, we are begging you to include Abuja.”
FAAN TO MAKE SPACE ARRANGEMENT AHEAD OF AIRLINE’S NIGERIA OPERATIONS
The minister directed FAAN to facilitate the necessary arrangements for the airline’s operations in Lagos.
In response, Kuku assured the delegation that the authority would make space available for Etihad at the temporary terminal pending the completion of ongoing infrastructure upgrades.
“Although space would be tight, every effort would be made to accommodate the airline,” she said.
To accelerate preparations ahead of the planned resumption, Keyamo also directed the establishment of a joint working committee comprising officials of the ministry, aviation agencies, and Etihad Airways.
The parties agreed to begin engagements through a virtual meeting next week to fast-track regulatory approvals, operational planning, and other requirements ahead of the airline’s return.
Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, the UAE envoy to Nigeria, had announced that Etihad Airways will commence flights to Abuja later this year.
Etihad Airways had launched its Nigerian services in July 2012.
Although it is uncertain why the airline ceased operations in the West African nation, reports have linked the diplomatic row that started in 2021 between the UAE and Nigeria to it.
In December 2021, the UAE banned airlines from airlifting Nigerian passengers into the Emirates.
The disputes, which were over visa bans and flight allocations, thawed in 2023 when the incumbent government came into power.
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