UAE Concedes To Alloting More Slots To Air Peace For Direct Flight To Dubai

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Monday, allotted seven slots to Air Peace, in what appears to be a move to avert a diplomatic row.

Recall that Emirates had earlier suspended all its flights to Abuja and Lagos after the Nigerian government retaliated against the UAE’s treatment of Air Peace and cut Emirate’s slots from 21 to one.

Air Peace had requested for three slots instead of one it was given at the UAE's Sharja Airport. 

Describing the move as unreasonable, the UAE had advised Air Peace to make up for the shortfall with flights to any other airport in the country that has available slots.

According to sources, the General Civil Aviation Authority sent a letter dated December 13, 2021 to Air Peace.

According to the letter by the UAE, Air Peace can now fly directly to Dubai and not Sharjah Airport. 

The content of the letter claimed that they were given the slots even though they did not follow the right diplomatic channel by writing the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs which will in turn inform the Aviation Minister.

According to theNation, when asked if the UAE has stopped other carriers from conveying Nigerians to Dubai, the source said;

“This is in the realm of rumours. I don’t think it is true. No official communication banning Nigerians from entering Dubai through other carriers. If anybody has such a directive, let him or her produce it. It will be in gross violation of international civil aviation regulations.

“The Federal Government got no such information at the diplomatic or official level. I think with the latest concessions,  the UAE was trying to avoid a diplomatic row with Nigeria. We also do not want any row with the UAE.