Nigerian travel agencies, Emirates to discuss dollar airfare dispute
The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies plans to meet with Emirates representatives to discuss the airline's recent decision to sell tickets in US dollars to Nigerian customers.According to The Punch, Emirates' move has raised concerns among both travel agencies and travelers, prompting NANTA to seek clarification and explore potential solutions during the upcoming talks.
Susan Akpdoriaye, the former President of NANTA, expressed frustration with the situation, saying, "Emirates cannot come out in the open and say they want to sell in dollars without authorization." They will be sanctioned. Transactions in Nigeria must be conducted in the local currency; this is the law."
According to Akpdoriaye, NANTA previously worked with Emirates to address the airline's dollar-based ticket sales.
"When we learned that Emirates was selling in dollars, the new president and his team paid a visit to the company and informed them that Nigerian law prohibits this. Surprisingly, the government permitted them.
"They sent emails to all of their issuing agents, and I received mine. When I received my mail, I called to ask why this was happening, and this is the response I received.
"One of the conditions the airline imposed was to sell in dollars, and we were told that the government agreed. Are we taking five steps forward and ten steps back? And what they've done is put new demand on the dollar," she explained.
She emphasized the broader implications for the economy and travel agencies, saying, "We want Emirates to return, but we don't want them to destroy our economy and send us back to square one." We are not thrilled with the outcome. Everyone is complaining bitterly because they know how much this will cost.
"We, the excos, have decided that we will engage further, that even if they want to sell in dollars, they should still offer the option of naira.
"Apart from that, selling in dollars will exclude 70% of some of our members from business, which is not good for us. So we'll present our case to them, as well as some of our ideas, including the idea that even if they want to restrict the naira, they shouldn't close it.
NANTA President Yinka Folami expressed concern about the ambiguity of Emirates' current practices.
"They have begun to publish some fares; they have not begun operations, but are simply forward selling.
"It is not normal for them to sell in dollars. So what we're trying to do is get confirmation from them. Everything they do indicates that they will sell in dollars. So we're trying to confirm with them what it will be exactly. "That is the conversation we are having with them right now," he stated.
Meanwhile, Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, emphasized that transactions must adhere to local currency regulations.
"They shouldn't sell in dollars. Even if the site mentions dollars, I believe they will sell in naira. It can be written in dollars but must be paid in naira. "It will be an anomaly," Achimugu stated.
Emirates Airlines suspended flight operations to Nigeria in October 2022 because it was unable to repatriate $85 million in revenue that had been trapped in the country.
The airline cited a financial constraint as the reason for suspending services.
However, on November 19, 2023, Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo announced that Emirates Airlines would soon reveal the exact date for resuming flight operations in Nigeria.
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