Emirates Lands In West Africa

Sunday, 11 January 2004, 8:56 pm
Press Release: Emirates Airlines

Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, formally observed the launch of its services to West Africa yesterday when its Airbus A330-200 aircraft arrived from Dubai to an official welcome at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in the Nigerian city of Lagos.

Flight EK781 later flew on to the Ghanaian capital Accra to another official reception. The new route, Emirates' latest addition to its fast-growing network, had started last Friday.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates' Executive Vice President Commercial Operations Worldwide, led a delegation from the airline and HE Mohammed Abdul-Wahab, Nigerian Ambassador to Lebanon, also travelled with the Emirates group to Lagos.

At a press briefing at Lagos airport, Mr Al Ghaith said: "Emirates' new services are expected to boost business and tourism links between West Africa, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and the Middle East.

"They will facilitate investment in Nigeria and also strengthen cultural exchanges and understanding between this huge country and our region. This new route will give our customers four flights a week to both Lagos and Accra."

Lagos and Accra are the 73rd and 74th destinations served by Emirates - eight of them on the African continent ? in the 52 countries now included in its network.

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