Emirates returns to Nigeria Feb. 28

 

  • Gives fresh 14 days rule for connecting passengers 

 

Emirates Airlines which suspended flights to Nigeria over spat between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) occasioned by controversy over Rapid Antigen Testing (RDT) prior to departure of Emirates flights from Nigeria  said it would return to the lucrative Dubai-Nigerian routes February 28, 2021.

This may have put an end to hope by passengers already booked on services by the airline that the spat would be resolved this week.

Meanwhile, the airline has warned that passengers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the last 14 days would not be allowed entry into the UAE (whether terminating in or connecting through Dubai).

The airline in a statement made available to Aviation Metric said, “In line with government directives, passenger services from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) to Dubai are temporarily suspended until 28 February 2021. Customers from both Abuja and Lagos will not be accepted for travel prior to or including this date”.

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The carrier however regret the inconvenience caused, just as it asked affected passengers to contact their booking agent or Emirates call centre for re-booking.

 

Emirates A380 aircraft set for take-off

“Emirates remains committed to Nigeria, and we look forward to resuming passenger services to Dubai for our customers when conditions allow.”

The UAE and Nigeria had squared up over the introduction of Rapid Antigen Testing (RDT) on passengers from Nigeria four hours prior to departure.

Irked by the action of the airline, the Nigerian government through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) slapped the carrier with a ban.

Less than five hours after the action, the NCAA lifted the ban after extracting commitment and agreement to suspend the action from the carrier.

The NCAA said the carrier’s suspension of Rapid Antigen Testing (RDT) prior to departure of Emirates flights from Nigeria with immediate effect until such a time that the required infrastructure is made available by the Nigerian government.

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That may not have gone down well with the Arab carrier as it tried to force the hands of the Nigerian government to accept its rapid test policy, the Nigerian government are going by the agreement extracted from them to suspend the exercise such a time that the required infrastructure is made available by the Nigerian government.

The UAE had accused Nigeria of lax COVID-19 tests and the procurement of fake COVID-19 certificates which had led to spike in coronavirus cases in the UAE; the reason for the introduction of Rapid Antigen Testing (RDT) on intending travelers from Nigeria to Dubai

The airline in a notice to its trade partners on Saturday said, “We wish to inform you that LOS-DXB (EK784) and ABV-DXB (EK786) flights scheduled for Saturday 06 February 2021 that have been cancelled due to operational reasons. DXB-LOS (EK783) and DXB-ABV (EK785) will however operate to bring incoming passengers”.

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“For passengers affected kindly apply re-booking options provided in our COVID-19 waiver policy previously communicated. We hope to revert to you as soon as possible, regarding the status of our future flights.

“As always, we thank you for your continued support. If you require any further assistance please contact us”.

Sunday’s notice shattered the hope of travelers as the carrier said again, “We wish to inform you that LOS-DXB (EK784) and ABV-DXB (EK786) flights scheduled for Sunday 07 February 2021 have been cancelled due to operational reasons. DXB-LOS (EK783) and DXB-ABV (EK785) will however operate to bring incoming passengers”.

“For passengers affected, kindly apply re-booking options provided in our COVID-19 waiver policy previously communicated. We hope to revert to you as soon as possible, regarding the status of our future flights”.

 

Wole Shadare