The United Arab Emirates has offered Nigeria the reason it granted Air Peace only one flight slot to Sharjah International Airport instead of the three it requested.
The explanation was offered by the Emirati Minister of Economy, Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, in a statement on Saturday.
The explanation comes hours after a face-off between Nigeria and the UAE led to the suspension of the flight schedules of Emirates Airline.
In what was considered a retaliatory move, Nigeria, through the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, announced a massive cut in the slots for Emirates Airline into Nigeria.
While it announced a total cancellation of its weekly seven slots to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos State, Nigeria also reduced the airline’s seven slots per week to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to one.
But offering explanation for the one slot granted Air Peace, Al Marri said it was because the Sharjah International Airport was had about 140 per cent capacity utilisation.
He said the airline would not have lost its place at the airport but for its decision at a time to use the Dubai International Airport.
He said the slot was then filled by others, adding that if Air Peace chooses any of the other two international airports in the country for its remaining two slots, it will be granted.
The statement said: “The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) presents its compliments to the Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMA) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and has the honour to refer to the letter Ref. No. NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/329 dated 9th December 2021, whereby the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) notified the Country Manager, Emirates Airline (EK) in Nigeria regarding the withdrawal of the ministerial approval granted to that airline with respect to their Winter Schedule. The NCAA further advised EK that this withdrawal becomes effective on Sunday 12th December 2021 at 2300Z and hence, EK ‘is granted approval to operate only one weekly passenger frequency to Abuja on Thursdays’.
“The GCAA has the honour to highlight that such a decision by the NCAA is totally unjustified especially, as it has come to our attention that their action is being taken against the background of Air Peace not securing all 3 slots at Sharjah Airport which they desire. (Air Peace initially operated at Sharjah Airport, shifted to Dubai Airport and then returned to Sharjah airport. It would be unreasonable for an airline to expect any airport to maintain their slots when they ceased operating at that airport.) In this regard, we wish to kindly advise you. that Sharjah Airport is currently operating at 140% slot capacity, but with goodwill and tremendous effort on their Side, this Airport was able to accommodate Air Peace with 1 of the 3 slots that this airline requested.
“The GCAA wishes to stress that the action being taken by the NCAA is obviously not in line with the spirit of the agreed air services arrangements between our two Nations. As we are both aware, the relations between our two brotherly countries are vintage in nature, one hallmark being the recent visit of the President of Nigeria to the UAE, which certainly mirrored the status of these positive relations.
“Finally, we suggest that Air Peace should consider flying their two other flights to any UAE airport at which there are available slots. As expected, the GCAA will support Air Peace in this activity, where required.
“Your Excellency, your kind support is anticipated so that the NCAA reviews their decision and restores the approval of the Emirates Airline Winter Schedule, as filed. In this regard, we wish to reiterate that this is a purely operational matter between Air Peace and Sharjah Airport and in any case it should have absolutely no implications for Emirates Airline.”
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
