The Federal Government has reinstated Emirates Airline’s 21 wekly flights to Nigeria, Daily Trust reports.
This was contained in a letter signed by the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu, and addressed to the Emirates Airlines country manager.
The letter read: “Following the further consultations with various stakeholders and the letter from Dubai CAA with reference number DCAA/ASA/N-3/016 dated 17th December, 2021, offering Air Peace Airlines daily slots to Dubai airports, I wish to inform you the reinstatement of the ministerial approval of Emirates Airlines Winter Schedule.
“The approval is predicated on compliance with the Dubai Travel Protocol as released by Dubai airports on Friday, 26th November, 2021, as it affects travellers travelling from Nigeria to UAE.”
Recall that the Federal Government through the NCAA withdrew the 21 weekly flights approved for Emirates and restricted the airline’s flight to one.
The NCAA Director-General said the decision followed the refusal of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to grant the three frequencies requested by Air Peace, the only Nigerian carrier operating to Dubai via Sharjah.
Following the development, Emirates in an update on its website said all its flights to Nigeria would be suspended until the issues between UAE and Nigeria are resolved.
The Arab country later bowed to pressure, granting six slots to Nigeria’s flag carrier, Air Peace, to operate at Dubai International Airport.
