• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Africa

Emirates to suspend Nigeria flights from September over trapped funds

19 August 2022, 8:20 AM  |
Reuters Reuters |  @SABCNews
(File Image) Workers offload boxes with Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines as the country receives its first batch of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines under COVAX scheme, at the international airport of Abuja, Nigeria March 2, 2021.

(File Image) Workers offload boxes with Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines as the country receives its first batch of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines under COVAX scheme, at the international airport of Abuja, Nigeria March 2, 2021.

Image: Reuters

(File Image) Workers offload boxes with Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines as the country receives its first batch of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines under COVAX scheme, at the international airport of Abuja, Nigeria March 2, 2021.

Dubai’s Emirates will suspend flights to Nigeria from next month over an inability to repatriate funds from Africa’s most populous nation, the airline said on Thursday.

The decision highlights the difficulties faced by international carriers that fly to Nigeria, which is one of the biggest markets in Africa for several of them.

The country has restricted access to foreign currency for imports and for investors seeking to repatriate their profits due to a shortage of dollars. Nigeria gets about 90% of its foreign exchange from oil, but is struggling to produce due to pipeline theft and years of under-investment.

The International Air Transport Association said in June Nigeria was withholding $450 million in revenue that international carriers operating in the country had earned.

Emirates said it had made no progress in efforts to initiate dialogue with the relevant authorities for their urgent intervention.

“Therefore, Emirates has taken the difficult decision to suspend all flights to and from Nigeria, effective 1 September 2022, to limit further losses and impact on our operational costs that continue to accumulate in the market,” it said in a statement.

A Federal Ministry of Aviation spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Emirates had earlier sent a letter to the government saying it could cut flights to Lagos this month because it could not get $85 million stuck in the country as of July, a figure that had been rising by $10 million per month.

Emirates said it would re-evaluate its decision if the situation over the blocked funds changed in the coming days.

Affected customers would be helped to make alternative travel arrangements where possible, it added.

Share article
Tags: NigeriaEmirates
Previous Post

LIVE: Health Minister updates on Monkeypox and government’s response

Next Post

Back with a bang but India’s Chahar not taking T20 spot for granted

Related Posts

People attend the ecumenical prayer led by Pope Francis at John Garang Mausoleum during his apostolic journey, in Juba, South Sudan, February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Jok Solomun

Protect, advance women for a better South Sudan, pope says

4 February 2023, 9:09 PM
Pope Francis greets people before his meeting with Roman Catholic bishops at CENCO (National Episcopal Conference of Congo), during his apostolic journey, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo February 3, 2023

Pope wraps up Congo visit, heads to volatile South Sudan

3 February 2023, 12:36 PM
Zimbabwean flag

Helping Zimbabwean permit holders not a political ploy: Ambassador

2 February 2023, 7:13 PM
File: An overview of the Niger delta where signs of oil spills can be seen in the water in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Nigerian communities file damages claim against Shell

2 February 2023, 6:09 PM
A Zimbabwean Permit from Home Affairs.

Zimbabwean embassy in SA to launch bid for the return of Zimbabwean Exemption Permit holders

2 February 2023, 10:40 AM
The Central Bank of Lesotho

Lesotho Central Bank raises interest rates by 25 basis points

1 February 2023, 3:05 PM
Next Post
(File Image) India's Deepak Chahar in action at the Third Twenty20 International - Australia v India - Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia on December 8, 2020.

Back with a bang but India's Chahar not taking T20 spot for granted

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Registration at Unisa closes on Friday, but management says no need to panic
  • King of Bacardi music ‘Vusi Ma R5’ killed in Soshanguve
  • Committee wants to halt planned demolition of North West hospital
  • VIDEO: Mabuza resigns as SA Deputy President
  • Shock over proposed SA sponsorship of Tottenham Hotspur
  • Parts of the Northern Cape to be exempted from rolling blackouts
  • Registration at Unisa closes on Friday, but management says no need to panic
  • VIDEO | St Benedict College’s Matric learner gets 11 distinctions
  • Limpopo matriculant from child-headed household attains diploma pass
  • Female circumcision practice thriving in Eastern Cape
  • VIDEO: Mabuza resigns as SA Deputy President
  • Three SA Tourism board members resign
  • EFF vows to disrupt SONA
  • Communities in Free State continue to struggle to obtain basic services amid power cuts
  • Qualified leaders needed for EFF to grow, says Malema

LATEST

File Image: A black rhino is seen after it was dehorned in an effort to deter the poaching of one of the world's endangered species, at a farm outside Klerksdorp, in the North West on February 24, 2016.
  • South Africa

Manhunt under way for suspected rhino poachers in Eastern Cape


A balloon flies in the sky over Billings, Montana, U.S. February 1, 2023 in this picture obtained from social media.
  • World

Suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down by US military


Bullet casings and broken glass
  • South Africa

Teen killed, toddler wounded in Cape Flats drive-by shooting


ActionSA Leader Herman Mashaba.
  • Politics

‘SA will remain a sinking ship under the ANC’


File Photo: An ambulance parked outside the Lily Mine in Mpumalanga.
  • South Africa

Government slammed for ‘inaction’ regarding Lily Mine tragedy


Juergen Klopp and Mo Salah during a match
  • Sport

Sorry Liverpool thrashed 3-0 at Wolves


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous LIVE: Health Minister updates on Monkeypox and government’s response
Next Back with a bang but India’s Chahar not taking T20 spot for granted