The federal ministry of Aviation has explained the reasons why it reduced the Flight schedule earlier granted the United Arab Emirates from 21 flights weekly to 7 slots weekly.
In a press statement signed by Captain Musa Nuhu,the Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority,NCAA,the authority explained that it was in the spirit of reciprocity in international affairs that made it reduced the 21 weekly UAE flights to Lagos and Abuja to 3 in line with the refusal of UAE authorities to do same for the Air Peace as contained in it’s agreement but instead granted only 1 instead of 3weekly Winter flights.
Full statement below:
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority
NEWS RELEASE
Following the lifting of the ban on Emirates Airline passenger flights to Nigeria by the
Government, the UAE based airline applied to Federal Ministry of Aviation for approval
of its Winter Flight Schedule. The requested schedule consisted of twenty-one (21)
weekly passenger flight frequencies to Nigeria, comprising of two daily flights to
Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos and one daily flight to Nnamdi Azikwe International
Airport, Abuja.
The Honourable Minister of Aviation graciously approved the Winter Schedule as
requested without any hindrance or arrival slots requirements in the spirit and intent of
the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and UAE.
Air Peace Airlines, the only Nigerian airline that operates passenger flights to Sharjah
International Airport in UAE, requested for three (3) weekly passenger flight
frequencies and was granted only one (1) weekly passenger flight frequency. The
Director General of General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) attributed this action due
non-availability of arrival slots at Sharjah International Airport.
Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between countries are based on the principle
of reciprocity for transparency and fairness to both sides. While Nigerian Authorities
approved the request of Emirates Airlines, UAE Authorities acted in total disregard of
the terms and provisions of the BASA between the two countries by approving one (1)
out of the three (3) weekly passenger flight frequencies requested by Air Peace Airlines.
DG NCAA held a meeting with his GCAA (UAE) counterpart on Thursday 9th December
2021 at the sidelines of the ICAO Air Negotiation Conference (ICAN) in Bogota,
Colombia which ended in a stalemate.
The Honourable Minister of Aviation decided to apply the principle of reciprocity and
withdraw the approval of the Winter Schedule given to Emirates Airlines and instead
approved one (1) weekly flight frequency to Abuja on Thursday. The DG NCAA notified
The Country Manager of Emirates Airlines and DG GCAA of the new approved weekly
passenger flight schedule.
We want to assure the public that national interests in all aviation matters will be
jealously guided and protected while regretting any inconvenience this action might
caused.
Captain Musa Nuhu
Director General/CEO NCAA
