First West Africa-Brazil Direct Flight Launching Soon |By Joojo Maapa | Direct flights between West Africa and the Southern American country Brazil, two regions with intertwined history, are expected to start soon.
This is expected to alleviate the difficulties that businesses and tourists encounter when travelling between the two regions.
Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, recently met with Silvio Costa Filho, Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, in Brasília to discuss the initiation of direct flights between the two nations.
A statement from Tunde Moshood, Keyamo’s special adviser on media and communications, noted that both ministers emphasized the deep historical and cultural ties binding Nigeria and Brazil and recognized the necessity of establishing direct air connectivity.
They announced the formation of a technical working group tasked with drafting and harmonising the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), intending to finalise the agreement within weeks.
This development signals a crucial step toward the launch of direct flights, heralding new prospects for tourism, trade, and cultural exchange between the countries.
Mr. Keyamo said: “Nigeria is the largest country in Africa, and Brazil is among the biggest in South America. This air link must commence without delay.” He further highlighted the shared heritage, stating, “We are like brothers and sisters,” referencing the Yoruba tribe in Brazil.
The ministers also expressed a desire to expand cooperation beyond aviation, exploring opportunities in knowledge sharing, technical training, and infrastructure development in the aviation sector.
Keyamo’s visit is part of a broader directive from President Bola Tinubu to open a direct air route to South America. Additionally, Keyamo engaged with executives at Embraer, a leading aircraft manufacturer, to discuss enhancing Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem through modern aircraft access and competitive leasing options for local airlines.
First West Africa-Brazil Direct Flight Launching Soon | By Joojo Maapa | AviationGhana
