Emirates Airlines is engaging the Federal Government on a flight ban extended to the Middle East carrier this week.
The carrier said it has opened lines of communication with the Ministry of Aviation towards resolving the impasse insisting that it will give updates on the progress of the talks between the two countries.
The Federal Government at the weekend withdrew approval given to a Emirates Airlines to fly into Nigeria from yesterday.
In a reaction, the carrier said it was still committed to serving its teeming customers on the two Nigerian routes, Lagos and Abuja, to meeting the growing demand for air travel in and out of the country.
“Emirates remains committed to serving its two Nigerian points, Abuja and Lagos, to connect our customers to and through Dubai to Emirates’ global network, and meet the growing demand for air travel in and out of the country. Emirates is working closely with the UAE and Nigerian authorities, and will communicate any updates to our customers. We look forward to continue serving our customers in Nigeria.”
The Federal Government withdraw the approval to the airline following the refusal of United Arab Emirates (UAE) government to lift visa ban on Nigerians.The decision by the government was in compliance with its threat to reciprocate any maltreatment of Nigerians or her carriers by any country or their airline.
Aviation Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika, who made this known, said, the decision to revoke the approval was arrived at after a meeting with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to review the status of foreign carriers operating into Nigeria.
“The PTF Sub-committee met with EU Ambassadors to discuss Lufthansa, Air France/KLM ban.
The meeting progressed well. Emirates Airlines’s situation was reviewed and they are consequently included in the list of those not approved, with effect from Monday, September 21, 2020.”
Besides, Emirates Airlines, another carrier African World Airways (AWA) from Accra, Ghana, has also been denied approval to fly into Nigeria.
The Ghanaian carrier sources said was banned by government on account of recent developments in Ghana where Nigerian trader were maltreated.
