The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) withdrew the approval of 21 weekly flights to Nigeria, comprising 14 to Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and seven to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) refused to grant the three frequencies requested by Air Peace, the only Nigerian carrier operating to Dubai via Sharjah.

Emirates in an update on its website said all its flights to Nigeria would be suspended until the issues between UAE and Nigeria are resolved.

It read “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 last flights to operate on 12 December 2021are EK 783/784 to/from Lagos and EK 785/786 to/from Abuja. Customers holding tickets with the final destinations Lagos and Abuja will not be accepted at the point of origin. Affected customers do not need to call us immediately for rebooking. Customers can simply hold on to their Emirates ticket and when flights resume, get in touch with their travel agent or booking office to make new travel plans. Emirates regrets any inconvenience caused. Emirates is committed to its operations in Nigeria, and we stand ready to reinstate services once restrictions are lifted by the Nigerian authorities, ensuring travellers have more choice and access to trade and tourism opportunities in Dubai and beyond to our network of over 120 destinations.”

This was disclosed in a notice on its website.

The airline said, “Emirates’ flights to and from Nigeria will remain suspended until 10 October 2021.

“Customers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the last 14 days will not be permitted on any Emirates flights bound for Dubai. Affected flight bookings have been cancelled. If your flight has been cancelled or impacted by route suspensions due to COVID‑19 restrictions, you don’t need to call us immediately for rebooking. You can simply hold on to your Emirates ticket and when flights resume, get in touch with your booking office or us to make new travel plans. Get all the information on the “Keep your ticket” option here. Emirates regrets any inconvenience caused.”

The airline said the flights will be operating these additional flights between July 27 and August 27, 2019.
Emirates Regional Manager for West Africa, Mr. Afzal Parambil stated that Nigerians with a valid Hajj visa will enjoy travel promos which run along with Emirates’ regular scheduled services to Jeddah and Medina.
Parambil said Emirates has commissioned a team dedicated to managing check-in and transfers for the hitch less movement of Hajj passengers leaving from and transiting in Dubai.
“Emirates has planned several on-board initiatives that upholds the values and traditions of pilgrims. Extra provisions will be made to accommodate Hajj traveller’s needs such as performing ablutions and other cleansing rituals as well as advising passengers when they have entered Al Miqat zones to ensure readiness for Ihram (the point when pilgrims enter a state of sanctity) through dedicated passenger announcements.”