Emirates Airlines has offered to partner Nigeria to establish a national carrier.
On Monday, James Odaudu, the special assistant to aviation minister Hadi Sirika, stated that the president of Emirates Airlines, Tim Clark, made the offer during a panel discussion at Dubai Expo 2020.
The panel discussion was held to discuss the future of aviation at the Dubai Expo 2020. Mr Clark said Emirates would be happy to help Nigeria start a national carrier.
“Of course, Nigeria needs a national airline. There is an enormous business case for the national carrier. Nigerians are seeking to travel all over the world. Nigeria is a powerhouse in Africa,” explained Mr Clark. “We are very interested in flying there because it is a rich nation in terms of demand for services.”
At the session, Mr Sirika noted that the airline’s offer could not be anything other than an endorsement of the need, the zeal, and the process for Nigeria’s national carrier project.
He further mentioned that the Emirates’ move was also an expression of confidence of the international aviation community in the commitment by Nigeria to have a national airline.
The aviation minister added that the offer was an encouragement to many bidders currently preparing their public-private partnership bids for Nigeria Air in response to the request for a proposal advertised by the federal government.
Mr Sirika assured that the process of acquiring the Air Operator’s Certificate and the Air Transport License was on course for the expected launch date of the national carrier.
“As has been repeatedly stated, the whole process for the establishment of the national carrier and all the projects under the government’s aviation roadmap has been guided by the principles of transparency and accountability,” explained the minister. “Boldly speaking, this will remain till the final delivery of the project.”
Expo 2020, hosted by Dubai from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, was originally scheduled for October 20, 2020, to April 10, 2021.
The organizers kept the name Expo 2020 for marketing and branding purposes despite its postponement because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(NAN)