Turkish Airlines, hotel deny maltreating stranded passengers

Stranded passengers at a Lagos airport

Turkish airlines and the management of Golden Tulip Hotel, Apapa, Lagos, has denied reports of maltreating some stranded passengers and subsequently ejected them from the hotel.

The airline said while it regretted the development caused by cancelled flights early January, the affected passengers were catered for as mandated by the rule.

Imo Air born, to be operated by Dana

The Imo State Government is set to launch Imo Air to be operated by Dana Airline, in a partnership deal.

Dana Airline Communications Manager, Mr Kingsley Ezenwa, made this known in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday.

Emirates introduces blankets made from recycled plastic bottles

Emirates Airline. PHOTO: TWITTER

Emirates has introduced new sustainable blankets made from 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles. The soft and warm blankets are made using ecoTHREAD™ patented technology and is now available in Economy Class on all long-haul Emirates flights.

Ethiopian Airlines ShebaMiles launch platinum tier level

Ethiopian airlines

Ethiopian Airlines is set to introduce a platinum tier level in its frequent flyer loyalty programme, ShebaMiles.

The Platinum tier level offers extra benefits to frequent flyers that accrue 75, 000 status miles or 60 qualifying segments within one calendar year, January 1 to December 31, within the validity period of two years, in addition to the remaining months in the qualification year.

Think-tank flays NCAA, FAAN over failed Abuja runway

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja

The dust raised by the Federal Government’s plan to close the Abuja Airport for runway repairs may just not settle yet, as more stakeholders blamed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for negligence.

The think-tank of the industry, Aviation Round Table (ART), carpeted the NCAA for its failure at ensuring that FAAN religiously complied with the Runway Maintenance Programme for the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, which is an operational safety requirement.

RwandAir to open Harare, Mumbai routes in April

Country Manager of RwandAir, Ibiyemi Odusi

RwandAir, one of the fastest growing airlines in Africa, said it has concluded  arrangements to expand flight operations into Harare, Zimbabwe, and Mumbai, India, in April 2017.

Medview Airline to be listed on NSE on Jan. 31

Med-View Airline

Medview Airline, one of Nigeria’s fastest growing flag carriers, will be listed by introduction on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Jan. 31, a senior official said on Sunday in Lagos.

Medview’s Executive Director, Business Development, Mr Isiaq Na-Allah,said the listing would enable the airline to expand its route network and acquire more aircraft to boost its operations.

Ethiopian Airlines expands operations to China

Tewolde GebreMariam

Africa’s largest airline group, Ethiopian Airlines, has concluded plans to connect Chengdu, China, with three times weekly flights.

Chengdu is the capital of China’s Sichuan Province and is the seventh-largest city in China. Chengdu is the country’s western centre of logistics, commerce, science and technology, as well as a hub of transportation, manufacturing and communication. Chengdu is also a major hub for Air China, Ethiopian Airlines’ Star Alliance partner.

Domestic operations shrink amid growing flight delays

Operations of domestic airlines in the country have again dropped in figures as at least two in every three flights are now delayed nationwide.

A new report on flight operations and complaints released by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), showed that the total number of flights operated last November dropped to 3,903 flights, of which 2,911 were delayed and 63 cancelled.

FG extends deadline for airlines’ automated payment

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority

The Federal Government has extended the deadline given to airlines operating in the country to automate their remittance/payment systems to aviation agencies to Feb. 28 

 

Mr Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Relations, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that the extension was at the instance of the operators.

NAMA boss seek support to enhance airspace safety

Newly appointed Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Capt. Fola Akinkuotu (left); receives handover note from outgoing Acting MD, Emma Anasi, at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos.

Newly appointed Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, has solicited the support of staff as he aims at making the nation’s airspace safer than he met it.

Turkish Airlines disown crashed cargo plane

Turkish Airlines has disowned the cargo plane that crashed on Monday, killing at least 37 persons when it plunged into a village in Kyrgyzstan.

Contrary to reports, the airlines denied any involvement in the accident, as neither the aircraft nor the crew are members of Turkish Airlines.

Recall that a cargo flight with TC-MCL registration number, operated by ACT Airlines, departed from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to Bishkek Manas International Airport (FRU) when it had an accident near Bishkek.

FG extends deadline for airlines’ automated payment

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority

The Federal Government has extended the deadline given to airlines operating in the country to automate their remittance/payment systems to aviation agencies to Feb. 28

 Mr Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Relations, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that the extension was at the instance of the operators.

Airlines in Nigeria, South Africa, others record demand growth amid challenges

International Air Transport Association

Airlines in African countries have recorded an 8.2 per cent growth in passenger demand compared to the figures in November 2015.The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for November 2016, showing the strongest demand growth in nine months.

The demand surge, underscores enormous the potential that abound in the air travel business and its ability to drive economies when optimised.

Minister of State okays improved facility at MMIA arrival hall

Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed

Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has expressed satisfaction with the state of the arrival hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, (MMIA), Lagos, commending Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for a job well done.

‘Why Abuja runway should be closed during repairs’

•NANTA, others insist on second runway project 

Hues and cries by airline operators notwithstanding, experts have thrown their weight behind the Federal Government’s decision to completely close the runway of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, during the six-week repair exercise.

Ojikutu advises FG over proposed closure of Abuja airport

Murtala Muhammed International Airport

An aviation expert, retired Capt. John Ojikutu, has suggested that the Federal Government should divert intercontinental flights to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos , when the Abuja International Airport runway is closed for repairs.

Aviation: More jobs to go as domestic airlines struggle into 2017

Nigeria’s domestic airlines are likely to post operating losses in the year ended December 31, 2016 as they struggle to source funds to remain in business. Daily Sun learnt that exorbitant cost of foreign exchange and aviation fuel took a heavy toll on their overhead during the year, severely eroding their profits and leaving them prostrate and in need of government bailout.

Arik Air passengers stranded in Kaduna Airport for 4 days

Several passengers, including children, have been stranded at Kaduna Airport since Tuesday, following the failure of Arik Airlines to airlift them as scheduled.

Some of the disappointed passengers made the complaint to the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, at the airport during the on-the-spot assessment of the facilities on ground at the airport.

Mass sack looms as domestic airlines struggle into 2017

Nigeria's domestic airlines are likely to post operating losses in the year ended December 31, 2016 as they struggle to source funds to remain in business.

It was learnt that exorbitant cost of foreign exchange and aviation fuel took a heavy toll on their overhead during the year, severely eroding their profits and leaving them prostrate and in need of government bailout.

Government sources however hinted that some airline operators have already approached the Federal Government with facts showing that the industry is on the brink of a collapse amid low revenue owing to a reduction in passenger patronage on most routes outside the Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt airports.