Federal Government of Nigeria has reinstated its approval for Emirates Airlines’ flight schedule, consisting of 21 weekly passenger flight frequencies to Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja; and Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos.
The development comes as the United Arab Emirates bowed to pressure and granted Nigeria’s Air Peace Airline daily slots at Dubai Airport, in the spirit of reciprocity and the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) in existence between the UAE and Nigeria.
Read Also: UAE Backs Down, Gives Air Peace 7 Slots At Dubai Airport
Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt Musa Nuhu, made the reinstatement known in a letter to the Country Manager of Emirates Airlines in Nigeria on Tuesday.
NCAA also copied its counterpart in the UAE, the General Authority of Civil Aviation as well as the Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
Read Also: NCAA Explains Why It Withdrew Frequencies Approval For Emirates Airlines
The letter marked, NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/334, was titled, ‘The FG grants Emirates 21 weekly flights as UAE allows Air Peace daily schedule’.
It reads;
Following further consultations with various stakeholders and the letter from Dubai Civil Aviation Authority with reference number DCAA/ASA/N-3/016 dated 17 December, 2021 offering Air Peace airline daily slots at Dubai Airport, I wish to inform you of the reinstatement of the ministerial approval of Emirates Airlines Winter Schedule.
This approval is predicated on the compliance with the Dubai Travel Protocol as released by Dubai Airports on Friday 26 November, 2021 as it affects passengers travelling from Nigeria to UAE. Please be guided accordingly.
Background
Nigeria had recently lifted the ban on Emirates Airlines’ flights to Nigeria after suspending the carrier from operating into Nigeria for several months earlier, due to concerns over UAE carrier’s requirements in the management of COVID-19.
Read Also: Emirates Airline Suspends Flights To Nigeria Indefinitely After FG Withdrew Frequencies Approval
Nuhu had stated that following the lifting of the ban, the UAE-based airline applied to the Federal Ministry of Aviation for approval of its winter flight schedule, consisting of 21 weekly passenger flight frequencies to Nigeria, noting that Nigeria approved the schedule in the spirit and intent of the BASA between both countries.
He had, however, expressed dissatisfaction that Air Peace Airlines, the only Nigerian airline that operates passenger flights to Sharjah International Airport in the UAE, requested three weekly passenger flight frequencies but was granted only one.
Subsequently, Emirates Airline on Friday announced the suspension of its flights to Nigeria, attributing its decision to the NCAA policy limiting its operation in the country to one flight per week.
