ABUJA, March 22 (Reuters) - Nigeria suspended the airline
Emirates from flying into or out of its territory last week
after the carrier imposed additional COVID-19 test requirements
on passengers from the country, the aviation minister said on
Monday.
Emirates said last week passenger flights to and from
Nigeria had been suspended until further notice in line with
government directives, but did not give details.
Aviation minister Hadi Sirika told a news conference that
the airline had demanded passengers from Nigeria undertake three
COVID-19 tests within 24 hours, leading the government to
suspend its operations, with the exemption of cargo and
humanitarian flights.
"To make us go through three tests within 24 hours does not
make sense. Since they insist, their operations remain
suspended," Sirika said.
Last month Nigeria lifted a suspension of Emirates airlines
flights imposed after the carrier sought additional COVID-19
tests for passengers from Nigeria. In addition to requiring a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
test before flying from Nigeria, the airline added an extra
requirement of having a rapid test four hours before departure.
Dutch airline KLM AIRF.PA commenced flights in and out of
Nigeria this month, the minister said.