The only airline serving Dubai from Nigeria, Air Peace, has joined the United Arab Emirates (UAE) carrier Emirates Airline in suspending service to its routes in Nigeria two weeks ago.
The airline said on Monday afternoon that it has discontinued direct flights to the UAE until further notice due to the non-issuance of entry visas to Nigerians. The remark was made by the airline’s communications manager, Mr. Stanley Olisa.
The airline announced that starting on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, it would stop operating its three weekly flights to the UAE.
The statement said, “This is consequent upon the persisting non-issuance of visas to Nigerian travelers by the government of the United Arab Emirates and the accompanying inconveniences.
“Air Peace has been operating in the UAE even with the country’s recent travel restrictions, but given the heightening hurdles Nigerian travelers are facing in accessing the country, it has become imperative that we halt our operations to that destination.”
Olisa said its management would provide further updates as the situation progresses. The airline said passengers whose flights are affected by this development could email its Call Center Team- to attend to their concerns.
For the fact, Air Peace has operated in Dubai and halted flight operations to the route before. In July 2019, Air Peace started offering flights to the country in the Middle East, however it did so by flying to Sharjah rather than Dubai.
At least three times in the previous year, Air Peace had to halt its flights to Dubai. Only in April 2022 did the airline resume offering direct flights to the countries in the Middle East.
Emirates Airline said around two weeks ago that it will stop operating flights to Nigeria due to its inability to repatriate stuck money and the refusal to grant Nigerians visas. That would be the second time the airline will suspend flying operations in Nigeria in less than two months.