UAE Writes FG Seeking Review Of Emirates’ Flight Frequency

United Arab Emirates (UAE) has written the Federal Government of Nigeria, seeking review of Emirates’ flight frequency. 

Gatekeepers News reports that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) says the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) action to limit Emirates’ flights to once weekly is unjustifiable.

Gatekeepers News had earlier reported that the Federal Government of Nigeria has reduced Emirates Airlines’ flight operations to Abuja airport from daily to once per week.

This was contained in a letter signed by NCAA director-general, Musa Nuhu and addressed to the country manager, Emirates Airlines, Nigeria.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said that the new schedule becomes effective on Sunday, December 12, 2021.

The letter read in part, “I wish 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/ATMD/501/C.104/XV/536 dated December 1, 2021.”

Subsequently, the Emirates announced the suspension of flights operations to Nigeria indefinitely.

The airline said it took the action in response to a restriction by the Nigerian government limiting its flights to the country to just a once a week.

Emirate announced this on its website, The statement read in part, “With the recently imposed directive limiting Emirates to operate one flight per week to Nigeria via Abuja, Emirates will be suspending its flights between Nigeria and Dubai from 13 December 2021, until the UAE and Nigerian authorities work on a solution to the ongoing issue.”

The UAE in a letter signed by the Minister of Economy and chairman of the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Abdulla Bin Touq Al Mari, was addressed to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.

GCAA said the action taken by the NCAA regarding the Air Peace’s approval at Sharjah is “not in line with the spirit of the agreed air services arrangements between our two Nations.”

The GCAA chairman said, “It would be unreasonable for an airline to expect any airport to maintain their slots when they ceased operating at that airport.

“The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) presents its compliments to the Federal Ministry of Aviation of Nigeria and has the honour to refer to the letter Ref. No. NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/329 dated 9th December of 20921, whereby Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) notified the country manager, Emirates Airline (EK) in Nigeria, regarding the withdrawal of the ministerial approval granted to that airline with respect to their Winter Schedule.

“The NCAA further advised EK that his withdrawal become effective on Sunday 12, 2021, and hence EK is granted approval to operate only one weekly passenger frequency to Abuja on Thursdays.

“The GCAA has the honour to highlight that such a decision by the NCAA is totally unjustified especially, at it has come to our attention that their action is being taken against the background of Air Peace not securing all 3 slots atl Sharjah Airport which they desire.

“Air 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.

“We wish to kindly advise you that Sharjah Airport is currently operating at 140% slot capacity, but with goodwill and tremendous efforts on their side, this Airport was able to accommodate Air Peace with 1 of the 3 slots that this airline requested.”