…Says FG ‘ll continue to protect Nigeria’s businesses
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has explained why it withdrew the 21 weekly flights frequency earlier approved for Emirates Airlines by the Ministry of Aviation.
In the new dispensation, only one weekly flight to Abuja has now be granted to Emirates Airlines.
This is just as NCAA revealed that the only Nigerian airline, Air Peace, currently going to Dubai, UAE, was refused multiple flight frequency and given only one weekly flight.
Clarifying the situation, the Director General, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, said with the withdrawal of the 21 flight frequency, which takes effect from December 12, 2021, Emirates Airlines can now fly into Abuja (Nigeria) just once weekly on Thursdays, while its Lagos flight has been suspended.
Captain Nuhu further disclosed that NCAA withdrew the earlier approval following the refusal of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of United Arab Emirates, UAE, to grant equal rights to the sole Nigerian carrier, Air Peace flying to Dubai via Sharjah.
He also stated that 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, seven.”
But the NCAA DG stated that it is regrettable that despite the ministerial approval, the UAE GCAA refused to grant Air Peace three weekly frequencies to Sharjah, which the airline requested for and rather “approved just one frequency weekly”.
Captain Nuhu also said that the GCAA had attributed its refusal to grant the three frequencies to the airline to inadequate slots in Sharjah airport, insisting that the government would continue to protect Nigeria’s businesses.
He said: “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.”
The NCAA had on Friday night in a letter with the reference number: NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/329, dated December 9, 2021 with the head: ‘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.
The letter reads in part: “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. The withdrawal becomes effective on Sunday 12th December 2021 at 23002.”
“Please kindly note, henceforth Emirates Airlines is granted approval to operate only one weekly passenger frequency to Abuja on Thursdays.”
