Emirates, a global connector of people and places, have carried more than 2.6 million customers on the Lagos-Dubai route, becoming the airline of choice for many in the country.
Emirates started operations to Nigeria on 2 January 2004, with four flights per week from Dubai to Lagos linked with Accra in Ghana, using an A330-200 aircraft.
Lagos became Emirates 73rd destination in its network and its 10th in Africa.
Today, Emirates flies to over 140 destinations across six continents, 25 of which are in Africa.
In 2005, just over a year after Emirates’ launch in Nigeria, it increased services from four to six flights a week, and following steady growth and demand, it became a daily operation in October 2005.
On 1 January 2006, Lagos was delinked from Accra and became a direct service to Dubai and in February 2009; a second daily service was introduced while each flight is served with a Boeing 777-300 ER.
The Boeing 777-300ER is the backbone of the Emirates fleet, efficient to operate and popular amongst customers.
“Emirates are all about connecting people and places, and as Nigerians love to travel, explore the world and make new experiences, we are proud to have played a major role over the past ten years in connecting Nigerians, whether for business or leisure, to our ever-expanding worldwide network through our Dubai hub.
“We look forward to continuing our growth in Nigeria by providing the best possible travel experiences and value for money,” Manoj Nair, Emirates Regional Manager for West Africa, said.
Also speaking , George Ikpekhia, the Airport Station Manager at Emirates office in Lagos said , ‘The arrival of Emirates was a big boost for the local travel industry, as it opened up new links and opportunities for business and leisure travel.
Dubai in itself has also become a very popular destination for Nigerians over the years, and today we are a key market for the airline in the Africa region,” he said.
He disclosed that Emirates currently employs 83 Nigerian nationals across its business in Nigeria and Dubai.
Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of the airline, also played a key role over the past ten years in facilitating trade between Nigeria and its trading partners in the Emirates network.
In 2013 alone, more than 12 000 tons of cargo, ranging from household goods to pharmaceuticals and construction equipment, was imported into Nigeria using Emirates SkyCargo services.
Underlining its position as one of the leading airlines in the market, Emirates has won a number of awards in Nigeria for its outstanding service, the most recent being the NTA Transport Award in 2013 and the AKWAABA – Best Middle East Airline in Nigeria Award.
By: Sade Williams
