The leading Nigerian domestic Airline, Air Peace has suspended flight operations to the United Arab Emirates amid issues relating to visa ban.
In a statement released today, the airline noted that the halt in operation will take effect from November 22 until further notice.
The statement read “We hereby inform the public, especially our Dubai passengers, that effective from Tuesday, November 22, 2022, we shall be suspending our Dubai operations till further notice.”
The airline added that its suspension is hanged upon the visa imbroglio between the United Arab Emirates and some African countries which had made it difficult for many travellers to access the Middle East Country.
“This is consequent upon the persisting non-issuance of visas to Nigerian travellers by the government of the United Arab Emirates and the accompanying inconveniences,” the statement added.
Air Peace subsequently instructed all its passengers whose flights are affected by the development to call or email the customer centre.
It would be recalled that towards the end of October 2022, the United Arab Emirates Immigration announced a visa ban of 20 African countries including Nigeria.
The notice which was sent to travel partners partly read ” This is to inform you that we will not be posting 30 days visa applications for these nationalities effective today October, 18, 2022.
Other African countries affected by the visa ban include Ghana, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, Gambia and Togo.
The rest are Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast, Congo, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Comoros, Dominican Republic and Rwanda.
Similarly, the United Arab Emirate Carrier, Emirates Airlines had earlier announced that it will be suspending operations in Nigeria citing the inability to repatriate ticket funds in addition to the reduced passengers on the UAE-Nigeria route.
Investors King understands that Nigeria’s aviation industry has been engulfed with a number of challenges in recent times.
Some of these challenges include foreign exchange scarcity which has affected the repatriation of funds generated by foreign airlines from the sale of air tickets.