The United Arab Emirates has asked the federal government to restore Emirates Airlines’ 21 weekly flights to Lagos and Abuja airports in the spirit of the agreed air services arrangement between the two countries.
Recall that the federal government, had last week limited the operations of Emirates Airlines to one weekly flight to Abuja only.
The action was in response to the UAE authorities’ refusal to grant the only Nigerian airline, Air Peace, three slots at Sharjah Airport.
In a letter dated December 10, 2021, and signed by the minister economy who is also the chairman of General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) board, Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, the GCAA requested the federal government to restore Emirates’ winter schedule.
The letter frowned that the federal government withdrew the Winter Schedule because UAE refused to allow Air Peace’s request for three flights a week slot at Sharjah Airport.
It argued that the current impasse was operational and between Air Peace and Sharjah Airport
“GCAA has the honour to highlight that such a decision by the NCAA is totally unjustified especially as it has come to our attention that that their action is being taken against the background of Air Peace not securing 3 slots at 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.
“In this regard we wish to kindly advise you that Sharjah Airport is currently operating at 140 per cent slot capacity but with goodwill and tremendous effort on their side, this airport was able to accommodate Air Peace with one(1) out of the three(3)slots that this airline requested,” the GCAA wrote.
It urged Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to review the decision and restore the approval of the Emirates Airline Winter Schedule, as filed.
“The GCAA wishes to stress that the action being taken by the NCAA is not in line with the spirit of the agreed air services arrangements between our two nations.
“As we are both aware, the relations between our two brotherly countries are vintage, one hallmark being the recent visit of the President of Nigeria to the UAE, which certainly mirrored the status of the positive relations.
“Finally, we suggest that Air Peace should consider flying their two flights to any UAE airport at which there are available slots. As expected, the GCAA will support Air Peace in this activity, where required.
“Your Excellency, your kind support is anticipated so that the NCAA reviews their decision and restores the approval of the Emirates Airline Winter Schedule, as filed. In this regard, we wish to reiterate that this is purely an operational matter between Air Peace and Sharjah Airport, and in any case, it should have absolutely no implication for Emirates Airline,” the GCAA added.
Meanwhile, Air Peace has denied that it was ever given slots at the Dubai International Airport.
The chief operating officer of the airline, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide said in a letter dated December 11, 2021 and addressed to the minister of aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika that “slot availability was used to deny us operating from that popular airport as it was our first choice.
“It was the politics of slot unavailability that did not allow us to operate into Dubai Airport directly.”
She stated that the lack of flight slot angle forced the airline to approach the Sharjah Airport as a last resort.
“We were welcomed by the government and people of Sharjah. While we were denied slots in their most important airport, the Dubai Airport, Emirates has always enjoyed red carpet treatment in Nigeria where they were given our most important airports- Lagos and Abuja where they operate a total of 21 flights weekly.
“We only asked for three flights weekly at the Sharjah Airport and we got the same and started operations on the 5th of July, 2019 until COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020,” she added.
