DUBAI - Dubai’s biggest carrier, Emirates Airlines, will restart flights to Lagos on September 11, after Nigeria’s central bank released a portion of the funds owed to the carrier within the country.
The airline announced in August it had briefly suspended flights to Nigeria, as the emirate’s carrier struggled to repatriate funds of around $85 million from Nigeria.
“We continue to engage with the Nigerian authorities to ensure the repatriation of our outstanding and future funds may continue without hindrance,” the airlines’ spokesperson said, welcoming what it said was the central bank’s move to release a portion of its blocked funds.
The airline is yet to disclose the amount of money released.
The Central Bank of Nigeria released a sum of $265 million on August 27, to settle outstanding ticket sales, according to its official Twitter page.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) “welcomed the decision of the Government of Nigeria” to release funds, the aviation body said on Twitter, adding “Aviation & strong air connectivity are key enablers” of the African country’s economy.
