…As Emirates Insists It Operates Only Evacuation Flights Out Of Nigeria
The Federal Government has debunked the claim that it has extended the resumption date for international flights to October 19 from its initial August 19 date.
This is as Emirates Airline refuted the claim in some quarters that it has consistently been carrying out commercial flights out of Nigeria despite the closure of international airspace, insisting that it only operates evacuation flights.
There are also indications that the August 19 initial date penciled down for the reopening of the international airports for commercial flight operations may not be sacrosanct after all, going by the tweet of Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation.
A tweet by Sirika on Tuesday stated that the government had not shifted the resumption date of international flights to October, but emphasised that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) issued a routine 90 days Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).
He declared that in conjunction with other ministries especially Health and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Aviation would announce a new date.
He tweeted: “International flight resumption date is not October. NAMA just issued a routine 90 day Notices to Airmen (NOTAM). In liaison with Health, Foreign Affairs and PTF (Presidential Taskforce) on Covid-19, we will announce the agreed date, regardless of ban by Europe, UAE (United Arab Emirates) etc. May be earlier than October.”
A report had claimed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) issued a NOTAM, stating that it was extending closure of international airspace until October 15 instead of August 19 as previously announced.
The ministry source had claimed that with this extension, the airspace would remain closed until October and if there was need to extend the closure, it would be communicated.
Meanwhile, Emirates Airline on Tuesday debunked the claim that it had been contravening the Federal Government’s directive on the suspension of international flights into and out of Nigeria.
A source close to the airline told our correspondent on phone on Tuesday that the Dubai based carrier only operate repatriation flights involving citizens of UAE, holders of resident permit or nationals of other countries.
The airline source insisted that anyone with UAE visa or any other country is not airlifted by the airline, stressing that Dubai had in the last few months suspended issuance of visas to citizens of any other countries.
He said: Emirates does not carry out commercial flights and it has not done that since the Nigerian airspace was shut down few months ago. Emirates doesn’t airlifts anyone who is not a national of another country or someone with resident permit. This is to avoid international diplomacy crisis between it and other countries.
“Whatever is advertised on the website of Emirates is the repatriation flight. I equally have someone who came into Nigeria from Dubai, but the person has Dubai resident permit, which enables him to return to Dubai. Anyone with visa is not airlifted by Emirates.
“If you are national of America for instance, you can be airlifted, but tourists are not permitted to travel onboard of the airline. What Emirates is doing is repatriation flights across Nigeria from Lagos and Abuja airports.”
