Nigerian unrest causes temporary flight cancellations

Several airlines, including Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson), Qatar Airways (QR, Doha Hamad Int’l), and Dana Air (9J, Lagos) suspended flights to Lagos between October 20 and October 23, 2020, after curfews were imposed following violent protests in Nigeria. Amnesty International earlier in the week reported protesters had been shot dead by security forces in Lagos following two weeks of protests over police brutality. Lagos Airport on October 20, 2020, issued a NOTAM advising that a 24-hour curfew had been imposed in Lagos due to the demonstrations, saying adequate contingency arrangements had been made to ensure the safe landing and take-off of aircraft and overflight of Nigerian airspace, however that movement in Lagos was being limited. At least ten airlines cancelled select flights to Nigeria, including Delta Air Lines, Qatar Airways, EgyptAir (MS, Cairo Int’l), and Virgin Atlantic (VS, London Heathrow), and as well as Nigerian carriers Dana Air, Arik Air (W3, Lagos), Aero Contractors (NIG, Lagos), and Air Peace (P4, Lagos). Delta, EgyptAir, and Virgin Atlantic as well as all domestic carriers, have since resumed operations. According to Flightradar24, Delta’s flight DL248 from Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson via Dakar Blaise Diagne Int’l to Lagos diverted to New York JFK on October 20 and was cancelled on October 21 and 22. Dana Air issued a statement saying it had suspended all its flights for October 22, 23 and 24 due to the curfew. Air Peace similarly put out a statement advising it would not be operating flights from Lagos and Benin City until further notice. Arik Air in a statement said its flight operations would be suspended until the lifting of curfews in Lagos and other parts of the country. Flights by British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines continued as scheduled through October 23, according to Flightradar24. Meanwhile, news reports have said that demonstrations in Lagos at times had blocked access to the airport with protestors barricading roads leading to the country’s main ports. A curfew was also imposed in Benin City following attacks on two prisons that resulted in the escape of almost 2,000 inmates. The protests were sparked by a video circulating on social media showing a man being beaten by police officers belonging to a special anti-robbery squad, known as SARS. The government responded by announcing the disbandment of the squad, which has been linked to widespread police abuses, including torture and killings.