The flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) disclosed this in a statement, blaming its decision on the inability to repatriate its earnings in foreign exchange from Nigeria.

This is coming about three weeks after the airlines appealed to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to support the repatriation of its revenue said to be $85 million.

Nigeria is facing a forex exchange crisis and this has also affected the nation’s local currency — Naira — to depreciate against the dollar.

In a letter addressed to the minister and signed by Sheik Majid Al Mualla, Emirates airline’s Divisional Senior Vice-President (DSVP), International Affairs, Emirates said the planned reductions in its operations in Nigeria would take effect from August 15, 2022.

It stated that flights would be reduced from 11 per week to seven per week at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

“We have had no choice but to take this action, to mitigate the continued losses Emirates is experiencing as a result of funds being blocked in Nigeria,” the airlines said.

“As of July 2022, Emirates has US$ 85 million of funds awaiting repatriation from Nigeria. This figure has been rising by more than $US 10 million every month, as the ongoing operational costs of our 11 weekly flights to Lagos and 5 to Abuja continue to accumulate.”

The post Emirates Suspends All Flights To Nigeria appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

We are working with Ministry of Health, CACOVID & The PTF to open Kano, Port Harcourt & possibly Enugu airports before the end of the year. Also Lufthansa, Air France/KLM has been given go ahead to resume. Qatar Airways is approved to start Abuja. Thank you for your patience

— Hadi Sirika (@hadisirika) November 17, 2020

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made the disclosure in a tweet on Tuesday.

Sirika also added that Qatar Airways has been granted approval to resume flights to Abuja.

The Minister hinted at the possibility of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport, and Enugu Airport accommodating foreign travelers before year-end.

In September, the Nigerian government barred some airlines from entering the West African nation as it resumed international flight operations.

The airlines include Air France, KLM Royal Dutch, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, RwandAir, Air Namibia, Royal Air Maroc and TAAG Angola.

Some of the airlines were denied permission to enter because Nigerians with tourist visas have been banned from entering those countries. The ones that fell under this category were: Air France, KLM Royal Dutch, Lufthansa and Etihad Airways.

The post International Flights: FG Lifts Ban On Lufthansa, Air France appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

In his Press briefing during the daily update by the PTF COVID-19, Sirika said the company has been banned from operations indefinitely while the captain has been suspended for providing false information.

Breaking it down, he said the letter granting the 24-hour leeway for the company, Executive Jet was for the company to convey Justice Adefope Okojie for her official duty.

The approved letter read; “I am directed to refer to your letter dated 11th of June 2020 on the above subject matter and to convey the Hon. Minister’s approval for your company, Executive Jet Services to operate on a return flight from the Murtala Muhammad Airport Lagos to Nnamdi Azikwe Airport Abuja on the 14th of June 2020 to drop off Hon Justice Adefope Okojie for her official assignments.”

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