NCAA threatens to sanction airlines over N5bn debt

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has read riot act to debtor airlines operating in the country, urging them to honour their outstanding accumulated N5 billion debt portfolio to the authority or face sanction.

According to the Director General, Captain Muhtar Usman, who issued the threat recently, the debt accrued from services, specifically the five Per cent Ticket Sales charge (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charge rendered to the debtor airlines by NCAA.

Captain Usman strongly warned that aside the pending sanctions, other punitive measures would be applied to ensure that the erring airlines have themselves to blame as the 14-day the ultimatum issued the airlines has expired.

‘Airlines Not Ready To Pay Debts To Agencies’

Despite aviation unions’ protests over alleged N100 billion airlines’ indebtedness to aviation agencies, especially the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), airlines do not appear ready yet to begin payment of the debt.

According a competent aviation source, a major debtor airline has yet to come to agreement as to the actual value of its debt.

“They have had meetings with the permanent secretary of Aviation on the issue, but they are saying that the debt figures are unrealistic, demanding one adjustment or the other. I can say that they have not shown any readiness to begin paying the debts,” the source said.

New Airline Seating Could Change the Way We Board Planes

New Airline Seating Could Change the Way We Board Planes (ABC News)

You're boarding an aircraft. Or trying to. But as everyone takes their time finding seats and loading luggage into the overhead, you wait and wait, wondering if the flight will take off on time.

Those who are denied visas can re-apply after six months’ – US Consul

The United States Mission has stated that over 220,000 people applied for the non-immigrant visas from Nigeria in 2014.

The Chief Consular Officer of the U.S. Embassy, Ms Stacie Hankins, said i66 per cent of tourist visa applications were actually granted in the same year.

Hankins explained that two in every three applicants were successful, adding refusal of visa applications and failure to make use of visa had no disadvantage on the applicants.

She also said the U.S. Mission received more than 138,578 applications for non-immigrant travel to the U.S. for the 2015 fiscal year, which started in October, 2014.

What can you bring home to Nigeria? – A guide on duty-free shopping

If you are a frequent traveller, you’ve probably heard about duty-free shopping before.

It is actually a way to save tens or hundreds of your money on your purchases by shopping in areas that have been designated as duty free – also known as tax free.

96-hour UAE transit visas now available to all passengers

All passengers can now apply for the 96-hour UAE transit visas irrespective of the airline they are flying on.

The 96-hour UAE transit visas will now be issued to passengers arriving at any of the UAE airports through any international airline.  Previously, such visas were given only to passengers flying on UAE airlines – Etihad Airways and Emirates precisely.

US embassy attends to visa complaints on social media

Three officials of the United States Embassy in Nigeria, of Friday, interacted with Nigerians from different parts of the country for an hour and three minutes. They spoke on what applicants should do or avoid when processing the US visa.

The live show was not a television programme. Recognising the growing influence of digital media, the visa officers took to Google Hangouts to provide answers to questions bordering applicants while busting various myths around visa processing.

The officers said they took to Google Hangouts to help applicants relate with the embassy directly instead of patronising touts and agents.

Severe turbulence on EgyptAir leaves passengers, cabin staff needing hospital treatment

Twelve people were hospitalised on a flight from New York due to severe turbulence on EgyptAir.

The aircraft was carrying 268 passengers when, a few hours into the journey, the plane was violently rocked from side to side.

Ten passengers were injured as a result, as well as two members of cabin crew.

The EgyptAir flight from New York to Cairo was rocked by severe turbulence a few hours into the journey

Etihad introduces new fare structure, changes baggage policy

Etihad Airways has introduced a new fare structure and has also made changes to their baggage allowance policy.

The move will leave air passengers with eight fares to choose from. These are:

Stowaway found in tyre compartment of Medview aircraft

A 25-year-old stowaway has been arrested after he was found inside the tyre compartment of a Ghana-bound Medview Airlines plane parked at the tarmac of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two.

The man identified as Festus Chikelube succeeded in gaining access into the tyre compartment of Medview aircraft which was ready for taxing.

Irish Embassy, Arik partner on trade mission

The Irish Embassy in Nigeria and Enterprise Ireland has concluded plans to partner with Arik Air on the Irish Trade Mission to Nigeria by December 2015.

 

Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Embassy, Nigeria have reached agreement with Arik Air on the Irish Trade Mission to Nigeria by December 2015.

The Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sean Hoy stated that the trade mission to Nigeria would be one of the largest in recent times and will also attract a lot of interests in the aviation sector.

Mr. Hoy, who led a team of Enterprise Ireland officials to Arik Aviation Centre in Lagos, stressed that the Irish Embassy in Nigeria has been committed to improving trade relations between Nigeria and Ireland.

Over 25,000 visas were issued in first half of 2015 – SA embassy

The South African embassy in Nigeria has stated that about 25,168 visas were issued in the first half of 2015.

South African Consul General in Nigeria,  Mokgethi Monaisa, said that 59,657 visas were issued in 2013 and 48,289  in 2014.

The embassy also pointed out that the bulk of the successful visa applicants were visitors from the age category of between 25 years to late 30s while about 40 percent of the applicants visited for leisure purposes and the remainder for business related reasons. According to the report, over 60,000 Nigerian arrivals to South Africa in 2014 (a figure representing 9 percent of Nigeria’s total outbound tours), were attracted by the country’s value for money tailor-made tour packages, well-developed tourism facilities, quality accommodations in its 5,253 graded hotels and resorts, efficient transport systems, beautiful landscape and exuberant culture among others.

‘Don’t pay more than approved application fee’ – New Immigration boss

Mr. Kure Martins Abeshi, Comptroller General, Immigration

The newly appointed Comptroller General of Immigration, Mr. Kure Martins Abeshi, has warned officers and men of the service at airports and Immigration passport offices to stop demanding for extra money for services rendered.

The new immigration boss warned that anyone found culpable would be sacked.

Abeshi, who gave this warning during his first on-the-spot visit to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and Alausa passport office, Ikeja, pleaded with officers to learn to live within their means and be contented with what they have.

FG to deliver 5 international airport terminals by April 2016

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Hajia Binta Bello

The federal government has disclosed that it will complete and deliver five international airport terminals across the country. This was known by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Hajia Binta Bello.

The terminals which are concurrently being remodelled and built to meet international standards will cost about $500 million (N100 billion)

Bello said “We don’t have any financial impediment that would slow down the work that is in progress. For instance there is no problem of finance with the finance of the five ongoing international terminals.

Children flying alone internationally: Information and tips for parents

Your kid is going overseas. Perhaps she’s visiting family who live abroad. Maybe he’s going to stay with a friend for a couple of weeks during the summer break. Now you have to figure out how to keep your kid safe from a continent away. The following are ten top travel safety tips when your kid is flying alone.

Kid Travel Safety Tip #1: Arrange Documents Ahead of Time
The last thing you want to have happen is for your child to be detained at a foreign airport due to a problem with their passport or visa. Make sure ahead of time your child’s passport expiration is more than 6 months after their planned return home. Check if any visas are needed for the countries where they’re planned to spend time, and if so, arrange to have those far in advance. Verify if there are any special requirements in that country regarding kids traveling without parents, and follow these to the

Traveling abroad during pregnancy? 5 tips for a safe and healthy trip

Pregnancy can make international travel even more daunting, and special care should be taken. For most women, traveling is most comfortable during the pregnancy’s second trimester as the nausea of early pregnancy has abated and the discomforts of late pregnancy have not yet occurred. However, assuming you get the okay of a travel health specialist to engage in international travel, your trip abroad is likely to be a trip you’ll never forget. These top five tips for a healthy and safe trip while pregnant will help to ensure that your adventure is a pleasant and joyful experience.