Emirates Airline has announced plans to resume flight operations to Nigeria, marking the end of a nearly two-year suspension on the route.

The airline’s Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday.

“We are excited to resume our services to Nigeria. We thank the Nigerian government for their partnership and support in re-establishing this route, and we look forward to welcoming passengers back on board,” Kazim said.

Emirates halted operations between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2022 after difficulties repatriating funds from ticket sales, which coincided with the UAE government’s suspension of visa issuance to Nigerian citizens.

Before the suspension, Emirates was one of the most popular carriers among Nigerian travellers, offering extensive connections from Dubai to over 140 global destinations.

The resumption of flights follows renewed diplomatic engagements between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who met in Abu Dhabi in September 2024 to strengthen bilateral relations and address long-standing aviation and visa issues.