Neos Airline, Italy’s flag carrier, has announced the resumption of direct flights from Italy to Nigeria from October 30, 2024 – a move expected to strengthen bilateral trade between the two countries. The flights will be operated once a week, with the aim of increasing them to three times weekly from December 2024.
Italian Consul General in Nigeria, Mr. Ugo Boni, expressed satisfaction in the accomplishment, stating, “This is a welcome development and I am happy to be here. The Nigeria-Italy relationship will be strengthened”, he said, adding that it is his desire to see the weekly flight frequencies increase to three (3).
Mr. Boni assured Nigerians seeking visas to Italy that the consulate is working to reduce processing time to two (2) weeks, and that his aim is to make travel seamless for Nigerians, not to keep them from traveling.
Nigeria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, hailed the commencement of Neos Airline’s direct flights, calling it “the official re-launch of the Nigeria-Italy air links that will help streamline relations between both countries.” He commended Sky Master, the General Sales Agent (GSA) for Neos and other stakeholders for their efforts, referring to them as “super Ambassadors in their own right”, and acknowledged their contributions to the Nigerian aviation sector.
The successful resumption of direct flights is attributed to the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including the Ministries of Aviation and Aerospace Development, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of both Nigeria and Italy. This development is expected to facilitate international trade, tourism, and business synergy between both countries, marking a significant milestone achieved by both nations.
