UAE backs down, approves seven slots for Air Peace

After intrigues and counter-intrigues between the UAE and Nigerian government over air services agreements, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has finally allocated seven slots at Dubai Airport for Air Peace.

Tribune Online reports that the latest development will go a long way in putting to rest the diplomatic tension between the two countries which led to each side stopping flight operations into each other’s territory.

The Nigerian government had reduced the earlier 21 frequencies approved for Emirates airlines to just one following the refusal of the UAE to cooperate with the Nigerian flag carrier, Air Peace.

Following the retaliatory piston of the Federal Government, the Emirates Airline swiftly announced the complete suspension of its operations to Nigeria pending when the diplomatic row will be settled.

In a circular emanating from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority dated December 13, 2021, and addressed to the Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, the UAE intimated him that the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority has granted the Nigerian carrier seven slots to operate to Dubai airport as a far departure from the Sharjah airport he was initially approved to operate to.

In the letter, Director General of the DCAA, Mohammed Ahli, said the Dubai Airports Authorities had confirmed and blocked seven slots for Air Peace.

The letter partly read: “The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority presents the compliments to the Honourable Management of Air Peace Nigeria.

“Your Excellency, relations between our two countries go a long way back and we value these relations between our two brotherly countries.

“We write in reference to Air Peace’s possible/intended operations to/from Dubai Airports (DXB), we have received information from Dubai Authority, with regard to slot availability at DXB – Terminal 1 and as a gesture of goodwill and support of UAE and Nigeria relations, I case Air Peace wish to start flights, slots have been blocked by Dubai Airports as detailed below.

“Slots available and blocked for Air Peace are the following: All days.

“As these slots cannot be blocked indefinitely, we would highly appreciate if Air Peace could kindly reach out to Dubai Airports and inform them of their intentions to operate by Thursday 16th December 2021 and accordingly confirm the blocked slots.

“Dubai Airports have also confirmed that dnata-the ground handling agents at DXB have sent the ground handling quotation to Ms Reham Mustafa- Country Manager and also, Emirates flight catering is working on the quotation and should send it out latest by tomorrow morning.

“For landing permission, they could contact our Air Transport section as detailed below.

“We look forward for Air Peace to operate with utmost confidence to/from DXB at the soonest.

“Dubai Civil Aviation Authority avails itself the opportunity to renew to the Honorable management of Air Peace the assurances of its highest consideration and reiterates its support at all times.”

While this has been welcomed by stakeholders in the sector, some critics are of the opinion that the two airlines, Emirates and Air Peace should share the 21 slots equally in line with the agreements signed by the two countries.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents

In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.