The development was announced in a statement issued on Friday evening by Emirates Airlines.
“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 in Nigeria, 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,” the statement read.
TheWill Newspaper had earlier reported that effective December 12, 2021, Emirates can only fly into Abuja just once weekly on Thursdays, while its Lagos flights are suspended.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in a statement on Friday by its Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu, explained that the Federal Government decided to respond to how the United Arab Emirates (UAE) treated Nigerian airline, Air Peace, adding that it is 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.
According to Nuhu, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had graciously 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.
From TheWILL Nigeria
It us well. But they also refuse to grant equal right too.
ReplyDeleteWhen I said it here last time that UAE don't regard Nigerians you people said I shouldn't blame the government. One thing I know is that they read these things we post here, it's a good move they let UAE government know we worth something other than how they see and treat us.
DeleteThey don't give us jobs, they frustrate Nigerians with every given opportunity, respect is reciprocal enough!
Reprisal...mhmmmmm
ReplyDeleteGREAT NEWS.....STOP Y'ALL FLIGHTS. Maybe ndi One Nigeria are about to fix one Nigeria.. I am just observing
ReplyDeleteOk na.
ReplyDeleteHow I wish we can do without them?
ReplyDeleteBut na we need dem pass!
Nope. I wish air peace doesnt disappoint . Its about to be a lit Christmas for airpeace
DeleteNeed Emirates much as how? Nope we don't, no be flex most people dey go flex for dubai? Nigerians will find another destination.
DeleteIt is Emirate's loss.
How will they not grant only 3 flights per week request to Airpeace yet they want to keep doing 21. Make dem come carry passangers nau.
Interesting much! It's a tit for tat kinda situation and i am so loving it..
ReplyDeleteY'all should swerve and it's about that time African countries rise up to the occasion of dealing them heavy blows..It's their loss and not ours
Gbam!
DeleteI agree totally!
DeleteCouldn't agree more.
DeleteThis is a fight arising because government is protecting Air Peace and of course Nigeria's international interest and reputation,
ReplyDeleteIf IPOB and its sympathisers have any integrity they should all openly commend the government for this action but no they wont, because it wont fit into their 'Buhari and Nigeria hates igbo' narrative.
The Aviation Minister is from Katsina State
I'm proud that the aviation minister is doing the right thing. Whoosh. It wasn't even in the news.
DeleteHow does this concern ipob? Take your bile somewhere else
DeleteIt concerns Igbos because the owner of air peace is Igbo and a Fulani govt as you say is defending the airline
DeleteAnon 09:51 Keep your division to yourself. It's not every Igbo is IPOB. Which region exemplifies one Nigeria more than Igbo? Lack of information is your problem. Does Nigeria have a national airline? Nigeria should be grateful Air Peace is acting as a national carrier, saving her from disgrace. It's a matter of honour for Aviation ministry to do what it did. Any airline the size of Air Peace flying international, doing what the absence of national carrier does will still get the support irrespective of region. By the way, is it not disgraceful a country as big as Nigeria not having a national carrier?
DeleteGo to Arik and see how your northern brothers and those you worship have killed the airline, even carved another airline from Arik they were to save from bankruptcy. They re painted one of Arik's fleet to theirs.
Leave Igbos alone and face your people
@ Balkita. You have clearly assumed that anon 9.51 is a non Igbo, you fail am.
DeleteYou might not want to acknowledge it but if this was an action that appeared to be against an Igbo we know the sort of angry and hate filled comments we would've seen on this platform.
No one said all igbos are IPOB which is why the comment was directed to IPOB and its supporters, not to igbos
👌👌👌
DeleteBut when govt defends Dangote, this same Baltika will not say it's due to the size of his operations but on Fulani basis.
DeleteAnyway, the successful Igbos have more sense than to be descending into tribaliam, they make moves not empty noise online.
It should even be the government thanking air piece sef 🤣
DeleteAnd what the hell does ipob abi wetin be their name have to do with it.
Imagine a whole giant of Africa, if an igbo man dint think outside the box, what would have happened...next time you want to insult focus on who deserves it.
Nigeria doesn't owe Air peace any gratitude, not now and definitely not in the future. The government is defending w Nigerian company, not an Igbo company. Arik is not owned by a northerner, get your facts right. This is not about tribe, ethnic nationality, it is about the sovereignty known as Nigeria.
DeleteOkay na, tit for tat🤔
ReplyDelete"Do me I do you" kind of situation
ReplyDeleteLobatan
ReplyDeleteDiplomatic theory of reciprocity. I will treat your business interests & citizens the same way you treat mine. Simple as ABC. This is what Nigeria has become under the Buhari you so love to hate. I love what my nation has become.. if it was the time of Goodluck Jonathan we would have run begging but with 'Bubu' it's fire for fire, we take nonsense from nobody no more.. God bless Nigeria
ReplyDeleteLet the FG also do the same to UK and Canada too 😁
🚶♂️🚶♂️🚶♂️
Look at u! D same Buhari that doesn't beg, but borrow borrow up and down. See ur nation's debt profile and u talk about not taking nonsense from nobody? Let me tell u, as it is for this ur nation, if China,EU,even Ghana say Buhari jump, he will ask, please how high?. Rubbish 🗑
DeleteMinister of Aviation, please fire on, do not back down on this, love it!
ReplyDeleteYes ooo
DeleteHmmm this is serious o , anyway let's see how they will react
ReplyDeleteAir Peace initially operated at Sharjah Airport, shifted to Dubai Airport, and then returned to Sharjah Airport. It would be unreasonable for an airline to expect any airport to maintain their slots when they ceased operating at that airport.” UAE
ReplyDeleteApparently Air peace created the problem. UAE even offered Air peace two slots in any other airport. There are always rules , businesses of Nigerian origin should and must learn to obey rules.
It's their loss. A lot of Nigerians love celebrating Christmas in Dubai. Now na to look for any destination or sit at home.
ReplyDelete