Lagos – The United Arab Emirate (UAE) has granted a Nigerian flag carrier, Medview Airlines, the approval to begin flight operations from Lagos – Dubai.
The Managing Director of the airline, Muneer Bankole, disclosed that the airline had earlier filed an application to UAE but the application was turned down on the grounds that they could only allow the Nigerian flag carrier to operate into Sharjah.
“The Dubai authorities said they had no space for us in Terminal One and instructed that we move to another airport in Sharjah. But with the intervention of the Federal Government who wrote a strongly worded letter to them to allow for reciprocity.
The Federal government said since they did not stop Emirates Airlines from operating to Nigeria, there was no reason why they should not allow Med-view to reciprocate flight rights. The Dubai authority eventually listened and yielded to government’s request that the airline operates to Dubai Airport Terminal One.
In his words, “We want to commend the government and the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika for helping to protect the interest of our airlines. The speed at which they rose to the occasion was highly commendable. I am very proud of the government that we have for taking this up with UAE.
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The airline appears determined to pursue its route expansion drive. A source who is very familiar with the development said the airline’s Johannesburg route is already on the table for the first quarter of 2018 coupled with either Washington or Houston Texas in the United States.
The Lagos- Dubai route is expected to commence before the end of 2017.
