TIT-FOR-TAT: NCAA reduce Emirates Flight Schedule over UAE’s shortened of Air Peace Winter Schedule

Press 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.

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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.

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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