The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted the ban on foreign airlines from conveying Nigerian passengers into the country.
Recall that the UAE authorities had banned Egypt Air, Air France, KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, Rwanda Air, Etihad and Lufthansa from conveying Nigerian travellers to Dubai.
It was learned that the move was a retaliatory measure against Nigeria for withdrawing the frequencies given to Emirates airline.
Many Nigerian passengers who had boarded Ethiopian Airlines heading for Dubai were told to come down from the plane on the order of the UAE authorities.
In a new directive, the UAE government reversed its earlier decision and asked foreign airlines to start accepting passengers from Nigeria.
A source within Ethiopian Airline told Daily Sun that: “The excuse from Dubai was that they had gotten 37 positive covid cases, so they had to take measures to restrict movement. But not long after the directive to bar passengers was issued, they reversed themselves and are now accepting passengers from Nigeria.”
This development follows the restriction of Emirates to operate 21 weekly flights to Nigeria by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The government instead gave Emirates one weekly slot in Abuja in a retaliatory move after the Sharjah Airport Authorities reportedly had denied Air Peace the three slots it requested.
Reacting, Emirates Airline suspended its flight operations between Dubai and Nigeria over the Nigerian government’s action to restrict its flight operations.
The airline said it will reinstate its operations once the Nigerian government and the UAE authorities resolve the ongoing impasse.
This article was originally published on Naija News
