First Nation suspends operations over low patronage on Kaduna route

FirstNation Airways

• Abuja Airport to get second runway in 24 months

Low passenger turnout on the Lagos-Kaduna-Lagos route has forced First Nation Airways to suspend operations.The airline that has lately been frequent on Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route, flying two Airbuses, said the market has not been the same since traffic was diverted to Kaduna International Airport, following the closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

FAAN, Cross River government declare Calabar airport unsafe for planes

 

Following alleged illegal activities around the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, the Federal Airport Authourity of Nigeria (FAAN) and Cross River State government have declared that the airport is no longer safe for planes to land.

FAAN officials, state government representatives and community leaders in the state disclosed this in a communiqué after a stakeholders meeting last Friday.The Special Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Aviation, Mr. Amos Kajang, facilitated the meeting.

Being seen above the clouds – Perception of Business Aviation in West Africa and how to affect it

Atedo N. A. Peterside

Business Aviation has a terrible reputation in West Africa. Unfortunately, private jets are still seen in the region as expensive toys for playboy millionaires, insensitive and wasteful Heads of States/Senior Government Officials or politicians and others who acquired their wealth through questionable means. And yet it need not be so.

Arik resumes operations as dialogue continues with unions

 

After 24 hours shutdown, Arik Air yesterday resumed scheduled flight services on several routes across the country.The development was on the heels of a late Thursday’s meeting and resolutions between the airlines’ management and aggrieved workers unions that had forced a shutdown two days ago.

The Guardian learnt the meeting, brokered by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), was able to get a consensus that all parties concerned should return to dialogue as the best means of resolving the differences.

Arik Air Asks Court to Disqualify AMCON’s Receiver Manager

Arik Air last Friday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that the process leading to the take over of the airline by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) was improper.

AMCON had on February 8, 2017 announced the take over of Arik Air.The corporation said it took over the airline to save it from collapse and in the best interest of the general public, workers, creditors and other interest groups in the aviation sector.

NCAA Sanctions Airline for Violation of Airspace

 

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that it has sanctioned an airline, Lyxor International, a non-schedule, general aviation operator for violating the terms of an approved flight clearance for its type of operation.

The regulatory authority grounded the airline’s aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on February 16, for the violation of airspace regulation.

NCAA DG seeks regular interaction with airline operators

The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Muhtar Usman, has called for regular interactions between the regulatory authority and airline operators in the country.

A statement issued on Sunday by the NCAA General Manager, Public Relations, Mr Sam Adurogboye, said Usman made the call at a meeting with the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) in Lagos.

Ethiopian Airlines to Add Two New Destinations in Africa

Mr Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines

Starting 28 March 2017, Ethiopian Airlines will add two more destinations on the continent, to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Antananarivo, Madagascar strengthening the airline’s network to 400 weekly flights to 53 cities across Africa.

Unions kick as Aero Contractors sacks 60% workforce

Aero Contractors yesterday said it has sacked 60 per cent of its total workforce due to poor financial state of the airline.

However, the effected workers will be paid their pension and gratuity. The management of the airline was taken over last year by Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, as a result of the heavy indebtedness of the airline to the company.

Aero Contractors sacks 900 workers

Aero Contractors Airline, which is under the management of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), has sacked about 900 workers representing 60 per cent.

Letters of redundancy were issued to the affected employees during the week. Media Consultant to the 58 year-old airline, Mr Simon Tumba, who confirmed the development in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos, said the workers would be paid their pension and gratuity.

Passengers Stop Arik Plane From Taken Off

 

An Arik Airline reportedly sent a 70-passenger plane to convey over 140 passengers who had earlier booked tickets for Lagos which left others stranded and resulted in chaos. 

There was chaos at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Heaping in Plateau State yesterday when Arik Air sent a 70-passenger plane to convey over 140 passengers who had earlier booked tickets for Lagos.

Genesis Aviation gets NCAA’s nod to commence helicopter operations

 By Louis Ibah

Indigenous carrier, Genesis Global Aviation, has been issued an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to commence charter helicopter operations in the country.

Genesis Aviation Chairman, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, who spoke after receiving the AOC expressed confidence in the Nigerian aviation sector, noting that although several operators that had high prospects at the beginning had later crashed out, their exit did not mean there was no market for new players in the helicopter operation industry.

U.S. to ban some airline passengers from carrying larger electronics

Passengers on some U.S.-bound foreign airline flights will have to check electronic devices larger than a cell phone once authorities formalise a new ban in response to an unspecified terrorism threat, U.S. officials told Reuters.

The new rule is expected to be announced on Tuesday by the Department of Homeland Security, the officials said, adding that it had been under consideration since the U.S. government learned of a threat several weeks ago.

Operator okays Kaduna Airport logistics

Dana Air

Managing Director (MD) of Dana Air, Jacky Hathiramani, yesterday commended the Federal Government over upgrade of Kaduna Airport, to serve as alternative for the temporarily closed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

‘Harsh operating environment behind airlines’ distress’

Mr Gbenga Olowo

Experts in the aviation sector have blamed the challenges facing domestic airlines in the country on harsh operating environment.

New landing systems approved for 11 airports

NAMA set to scale harmattan haze, weather hurdles nationwide
 
Smarting from nationwide flight disruptions last December and early January, the Federal Government has concluded plans to deploy new Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) in at least 11 airports nationwide.

The equipment, valued at several millions of dollars, will put an end to flight disruptions during harmattan season and other inclement weather conditions.

Union threatens to disrupt Aero Contractors’ operations

Aero

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has threatened to disrupt Aero Contractors’ operations by Monday, if the airline refuses to recall over 700 workers sacked recently.

 Mr Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, NUATE, issued the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday.

‘Why Abuja-bound foreign airlines will divert to Kaduna Airport’

Government officals at the reception of Ethiopain airline dreamliner at the Kaduna International Airport

 Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, on Wednesday received Ethiopian Airlines at the new refurbished Kaduna International Airport, with optimism that more legacy carriers are on the way. He spoke with WOLE OYEBADE. Excerpts:

There is a fresh optimism that the foreign airlines will eventually fly to Kaduna. Tells us the situation of things.
What happened was that I told Lufthansa in Frankfurt and British Airways that first and foremost, we are in the time of need but not stupid, to have closed down Abuja and open Kaduna. The decision bothers on safety. 

Calabar Airport wins award

 

Margaret Ekpo International Airport (MEIA), Calabar, has clinched the “Best Airport Cleanliness award” for the year 2016.At the award ceremony recently held, organisers of the event, Nigeria Aviation Awards (NIGAV), acknowledged the vital role played by MEIA leadership in turning the terminal around among its contemporaries nationwide. 

Travel agencies brainstorm on tourism potential at March 21 Lagos AGM

President of NANTA, Bernard Bankole. PHOTO: nanta.org.ng

Travel agencies in the country are set to brainstorm and map out potential in the tourism sector that can help the economy especially at a time of recession.

The agencies, under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), re-emphasised that local tourism is a low handing fruit for economic prosperity, if given the collective support and patronage it requires.

Africa’s freight demand up by 24.3%

IATA

International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data for global air freight markets showing that demand, measured in freight tonne kilometers (FTKs), rose by 6.9 per cent in January 2017 compared to the year-earlier period.

While this was down from the 10 per cent annual growth recorded in December 2016, it still was well above the average annual growth rate of three per cent over the past five years.

Airlines at Kaduna airport insist on cash payment

The new look of Kaduna International Airport on Tuesday (7/2/17) in preparation for smooth take-off of flight operations as Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja closes temporary for repairs.

Passengers stranded, lack access to ATM, PoS, BDC

Air passengers plying the Kaduna International Airport (KIA) are facing fresh hurdles as airlines operating at the aerodrome are insisting on only cash transactions.

The newly refurbished airport, which also serves as an alternative to the closed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, is currentlyoperat without Automated Teller Machines (ATM), Point of Sale (PoS) and Bureau de Change (BDC) outlets to serve international passengers especially.

Why aviation sector remains at infancy 91 years on

As the air travel sector closes in on its centenary, WOLE OYEBADE, in this report, examines its growth rate and why it is sleepwalking.

Bimpe Adesanya has lived in England all her life. A nurse by profession, but her over three decades in the UK has not offered much in terms of satisfaction. Her family, had, half of the period, contemplated a return home to contribute their quota to nation building.

Turkish Airline airlifts 266 passengers after passengers’ face-off

Turkish Airlines on Tuesday night airlifted 266 Lagos passengers who had their flight cancelled on Monday after faulty onboard cooling system and attendant face-off between travellers and crew.

The development forced the flight to be cancelled, with subsequent claims that some passengers fainted onboard. The airline, however, confirmed on Wednesday that the passengers had landed safely in Turkey.

Kaduna airport ready as Abuja runway shuts down next Wednesday

NAMA installs navigational aids

After much hues and cries, all appears set for traffic diversion to Kaduna airport beginning from Wednesday, when the runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, closes for the much-awaited reconstruction.

FAAN inaugurates Anti-Corruption, Transparency Unit

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), says it has inaugurated its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) to ensure transparency, accountability and good ethical practices.

Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN’s Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs said this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.