Nigeria confines Emirates Airline to Abuja
The Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA0,Capt.Musa Nuhu has come up with reason why the Regulatory Agency withdrew the Federal Government approval granted Emirates Airline to operate regular flights to two major Nigerian airports.
The order which takes effects from December 12,2021,Emirates flights into Nigeria have been restricted to Abuja with only one weekly flight on Thursday.Its flighsts to Lagos are suspended.
| Nuhu explained that the Regulatory Agency took the step following the refusal of the United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority(GCAA) to grant equal or reciprocal rights to the only Nigerian carrier Air Peace to Sharjah in UAE.. Speaking to newsmen in Lagos,Captain Nuhu said that Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation had graciously granted Emirates Airlines 21 frequencies weekly to two major airports in Nigeria; Lagos, 14 and Abuja, seven. According to him, despite this approval, the GCAA bluntly refused to grant Air Peace three weekly frequencies to Sharjah, which the airline requested for, rather approved just one frequency weekly. “The GCAA had attributed its refusal to grant the three frequencies to the airline to inadequate slots in Sharjah airport, the government would continue to protect Nigeria’s businesses.” “The Nigerian Government was gracious to grant Emirates Airlines 21 frequencies it requested for. The airline wants to operate 14 weekly flights to Lagos and another seven weekly to Abuja airports.” “However, Air Peace only requested for three weekly flights to Sharjah, not even Dubai airport, but the CAA refused the airline.” “ The CAA only approved one weekly frequency to the airline. The only excused they gave was that they don’t have enough slots. Where is the justice in this? That is capital flight out of Nigeria. Nigeria should protect its own.” In a letter with reference number: NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/329, dated December 9, 2021 titled: ‘Withdrawal of Ministerial Approval of Emirates Airlines Winter Schedule,’ and signed by Nuhu to the Country Manager, Emirates Airlines withdrew the initial approval granted the airline. It reads “I write to inform you of the withdrawal of the approval granted to Emirates Airlines winter schedule. This approval was conveyed via a letter with reference number FMA/ATMO/501/C.104/XV/356 dated 1st December 2021. “Please kindly note, henceforth Emirates Airlines is granted approval to operate only one weekly passenger frequency to Abuja on Thursdays.” |
