Following a long absence and despite Omicron controversies, South African Airways (SAA) is back to ply the Nigerian skies. The airline has officially reopened its Johannesburg – Lagos route to the satisfaction of the flying public.
The scene at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) – Lagos on Sunday 12 December, 2021 was nothing short of ebullient, as the SAA flight touched down at 8:04 amid much pomp, with Zulu dancers at the airline’s check-in counters on a mission to entertain passengers about to board the flight to Johannesburg.
South African Airline’s Commercial Manager for Africa, Mr. Ohis Ehimiaghe who could barely contain his excitement had this to say, “December is a very interesting month. I recall almost 23 years ago of flying into Nigeria on December 3, 1998, and December 12, 2021, we are making a return back to the Nigerian skies after almost 21 months of not operating in Lagos. The flight touched down this evening. It was a very impressive flight and we were greeted with the usual water cannon by the airport authorities. It was awesome. It was very nice. It gave everybody goose pimples.”
According to Mr. Ehimiaghe, both South Africa and Nigeria, being the “two biggest powerhouses for Africa” are both excited to be a part of the global economy. The relationship between the two countries is improving, as evidenced by the South African President’s visit to Nigeria two weeks ago, and SAA is the key means by which this relationship is nourished.
Commenting on the Omicron situation, the Manager said, “You are well aware that the Omicron variant was discovered in South Africa. Kudos to the South African scientists. Science has told us so far that the symptoms are so mild: zero death has been recorded; few people have been hospitalized. We are quite excited, and did not have any doubt that the flight was going to operate. There are absolutely no restrictions between Nigeria and South Africa. It is good for us. It can only get better.”
Remarking on the resumption of flights between Johannesburg and Lagos, Chief John Adebanjo, South African Airways’ General Sales Agent in Nigeria said the appearance of the Omicron variant should not be at the origin of nations travel-banning one another, and that his country should be applauded for identifying the virus when it did:
“From Nigeria’s end, we have competent hands that are looking into it. We raised a concern that it is just another variant, not as bad as we thought it would be. I am glad because I was in the UK a couple of weeks back, and the scientists are baffled that Africans are not dying from it. We still need to be careful of what we do. We did not entertain any fear at all that the flight would come in because we believe that Nigeria deserves the existing relationship between the two countries. Nigeria deserves the best, and South African Airways coming in is very beautiful to cementing that relationship”, he said.
