Emirates Airlines have renewed its public relations agitation and action against the Nigerian government. As a fallout, Emirates has suspended their Nigerian services and stopped operating flights from Lagos and Abuja to Dubai.
The claim of over $500 million of trapped funds is at the center of the ongoing public relations storm. A number of international airlines have repeatedly threatened to suspend operations to and in Nigeria over the non-payment of their trapped funds.
Emirates Airlines, probably the country’s favorite airline on the Dubai route had briefly suspended its services but resumed its activities when it received part of the sum from the government.
Flights from Abuja to Lagos are out rightly unavailable at the moment dues to the suspension of activities.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) promised to release $265 million to the airlines; $110 million on the go and the rest in 60 days. The CBN Governor again recently promised to release $120 million to the airlines. However, according to the International Association of Travel Agencies (IATA), these promises have not been redeemed.
It is still unknown if the airline would leave considering that the market in Nigeria is highly lucrative, not to mention that the government will come out worst off, sending red flags to prospective entities that want to do business in the country.
The country is facing what is probably its biggest foreign exchange challenge of all time, following the new currency plan and the unprecedented demand for dollars. Emirates’ exit will further muddy the waters and increase the public relations challenge.
Emirates exit will have multiple implications for the local travel industry and dampen the tourism hype.
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