After recently resolving grey areas over Covid-19 protocols for travellers between Nigeria and Dubai, a new snarl in relationship has caused Emirates Airlines to announce suspension of flights to and from Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Friday evening by the Airlines, the flight of choice for many said: “With the recently imposed directive limiting Emirates to operate one flight per week to Nigeria via Abuja, Emirates will be completely suspending its flights between Nigeria and Dubai, until the civil aviation authorities find a solution to the current ongoing issue.
“We regret the inconvenience this caused, and customers can contact their travel agent or booking office to make alternative arrangements.
“Emirates is committed to its operations inNigeria, and we stand ready to reinstate services once restrictions are lifted by the Nigerian authorities, ensuring travelers have more choice and access to trade and tourism opportunities in Dubai, and beyond to our network of over 120 destinations.”
Emirates’ position followed the decision by the Nigerian Government to restrict the Dubai carrier’s flights into Nigeria effective December 12, 2021.
Emirates, by the decision of the Nigerian government, can only fly into Abuja just once weekly on Thursdays, while its Lagos flights are suspended.
On Friday by its Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu, explained in a statement that the Federal Government decided to respond to how the United Arab Emirates (UAE) treated Nigerian airline, Air Peace, adding that it was the responsibility of government to protect Nigerian businesses.
UAE had reduced Air Peace’s request for three times weekly flight to one, claiming it did not have enough slots for the airline.
Nuhu said the NCAA withdrew the approval to Emirates following the refusal of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of UAE to grant equal rights to the sole Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, flying to Dubai via Sharjah.
Nuhu said the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, granted Emirates Airlines 21 frequencies weekly to two major airports in Nigeria: Lagos (14) and Abuja (7).
He regretted that despite this approval, the GCAA refused to grant Air Peace three weekly frequencies to Sharjah, approving just one frequency weekly.
