COVID-19: UAE halts all transit flights from Nigeria to Dubai

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

In an attempt to reduce the spread of the second wave of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the region United Arab Emirates (UAE), has stopped all transit flights with Nigerian passengers aboard into Dubai.

The UAE stated this in a travel advisory titled, “Dubai Travel Protocol Update-Travel from Nigeria” at the weekend.

By implication, this development means all passengers from Nigeria must fly directly from Nigeria to Dubai without stopping over in another country.

It was learnt the move is a tactical ban of other foreign airlines from carrying Nigerian passengers as it is only Emirates that flies directly to Dubai daily.

However, Nigeria Air Peace airlines also flies directly to Dubai through Sharjah Airport which is 15 minutes’ drive from Dubai.

Similarly, all Nigerians who have visited their home country in the last 14 days will not be allowed to fly back to Dubai through Nairobi-Kenya, Addis Ababa-Ethiopia, Cairo-Egypt, Kigali-Rwanda, among others, according to the advisory.

Other European countries are affected by this new policy issued by the UAE geared towards reducing the spread of COVID-19.

This policy is expected to greatly affect competition by African and European airlines on the lucrative Dubai route.

The travel advisory also explains that all “departing Nigerians to Dubai are required to obtain a negative COVID-19 certificate and the PCR must be conducted within 72 hours of the date of departure.”

The document notes that “all passengers are required to conduct a rapid COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result within four hours of their departure time. Passengers must travel directly from Nigeria to Dubai.”

Meanwhile, reports indicate some foreign airlines have started reacting to the development in the aviation industry.

Some of them reportedly said they would refund and also not lift passengers from Nigeria to Dubai from January 31, 2021, until further notice.

An airline in a memo stated: “You are hereby advised to check & cancel all your bookings & inform your passengers about this new development.”