DANA Air to begin daily flights to Accra from December 1

DANA Air has announced plans to begin daily flights to Accra from its Lagos hub.

Flight services according to the airline would commence from December 1, 2015 from the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2 ) , Ikeja, Lagos.

Mr Obi Mbanuzuo of DANA Air said  “We are now set to commence daily flights to Accra with a smart plan to bring world-class options to the flying public, in terms of in-flight service, on-time performance and pocket-friendly fares.

 “Part of the initiatives we have launched recently are the frequent flyer program to reward our loyal customers, online check-in to reduce congestion at the check-in counters and delays at the airport.

Arik Air debuts self-service kiosks for passengers

Arik Air has introduced self-service kiosks for passengers travelling to any part of the country and beyond.

The airline also introduced two extra payment options to broaden payment options available to passengers.

Mr. Ola Adebanji, the spokesperson for the airline stated that the self-service kiosk allows passengers make bookings and pay for Arik Air tickets without the intervention or assistance from any of its officers.

Thailand confirms six-month multiple-entry tourist visa

Thai’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs has confirmed that a new six-month multiple-entry tourist visa will be available from 13 November.

The ministry publicly released details of the new visas on its Facebook page

Unlike current tourist visas, which offer from one to three entries, the six-month multiple-entry visa will allow unlimited border crossings during the validity period.

‘Multiple-entries for foreign airlines affect the growth of local airlines’ – Ore

Capt. Dele Ore (Rtd)

An aviation expert, Capt. Dele Ore (Rtd), on Saturday said that allocation of multiple entries to foreign airlines were adversely affecting the growth and survival of local airline operators.

Ore, the former President of Aviation Round Table (ART), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the multiple entries of foreign airlines were hampering the operation of domestic airlines.

He, however, urged the new minister of state for Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, to urgently review the trend in line with the stoppage of payment of royalties by foreign airlines.

Ore advised local operators to form alliances and cooperation in order to tap into the benefits of economics of scale and scope which would accrue from such collaborations.

Med-view to commence direct flights to London November 20

Med-view Airline has announced that it will begin direct flight to London from Lagos Airport.

Medview is expected to join Arik Air as the only two indigenous airlines on that route.

Flight services will commence on the 20th of November, 2015. The airline will be kicking–off the services with fare of N149, 000 on Economy class cabin and N599, 000 on Business class cabin.

Similarly, baggage allowance on the route will be a 32kg (2-piece) for economy and a 32kg (3-piece) baggage allowance for Business class.

According to Muneer Bankole, the airline’s Managing Director, “The Lagos-London route has remained one of the busiest in the world yet remained the most expensive; it is against this backdrop that Medview Airline is entering the route as a Nigerian flag carrier to supply the missing link- capacity, reasonable fares, and good customer care ad excellent in-flight entertainment.

BA announces improved service on Lagos-London route

The management of British Airways has revealed its improved services on the Lagos- London route on board its Boeing 747 aircraft from January 2016.

The Head of Middle East, Africa and Central Asia Sales for British Airways, Mr Paolo De-Renzis, Head of Middle East, Africa and Central Asia Sales, British Airways disclosed this at a media parley in Lagos.

New Online Booking Portal travelbeta Unveiled in Lagos

Many people ask us what happens if their old passports expire or on the verge of expiration while they still have a valid visa on it.

While there is no way to physically transfer the visa from one passport to the other, we are happy to tell you that most likely, you can still use the valid visa in your old passport.

As long as the biographical information on your visa (full name, date of birth, place of birth and nationality) is the same as the biographical data on your new passport, then this is possible.

All you need to do is  bring your old and new pass­ports together any time you plan to travel to that country . That way, when you reach the border, the cus­toms agent will be able see that you have both a valid passport and a valid visa.

Dubai withdraws extension, increases visa fees

The cost of processing Dubai visa has reportedly been increased by the UAE authorities.
Also, the extension allowed on 30 days visa has also been withdrawn.

Biometric visa application now mandatory for Schengen states

27 European countries are set to introduce a biometric visa application system for applicants from Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Turkey, Eastern Europe and East Asia among others.

The European Union in a statement said this is to help streamline visa applications and protect applicants against identity theft and visa shopping.

Arik Air planes collide at Lagos Airport

Two Arik Air planes were grounded by the airline after they were involved in a ground collision on the tarmac of the Lagos Airport.

The incident which occurred on Tuesday afternoon at the General Aviation Terminal of the airport involved two Boeing 737-800NG aircraft.

Ethiopian Air declares emergency after engine shuts down over Atlantic Ocean

A Dreamliner declared an emergency this morning over the Atlantic after one of its engines shut down.

The Ethiopian Airlines flight had set out from Dublin Airport at 6am this morning bound for Washington Dulles, when it encountered problems over the Atlantic Ocean.

Emirates launches new Bulgari amenity kits

Emirates Airlines has launched a new set of Bulgari amenity kits for its First and Business Class customers. First class amenity bags. The bags have been designed in close collaboration with luxury Italian brand Bvlgari and are already available onboard all flights.

Etihad unveils new amenity kits

Etihad Airways has launched a new range of business class amenity kits. The carrier has teamed up with Luxe City Guides to create six limited edition bags, each containing Scaramouche + Fandango products.

Visa requirements for visiting African countries for Nigerians

 

The visa conditions for visiting African countries not as ‘difficult’ as you might have imagined.

As any local ‘naija peep’ may know travelling on a plain old green Nigerian passport is no joke.

Before even thinking about entering most countries around the world, you are required to pass the ultimate endurance test – a visa application.

Reams and reams of paperwork, sweaty-palmed interviews, exorbitant amounts of money and throbbing admin headaches later, you may or may not be allowed to hop in and out of a destination as fast as your little legs can carry you.

Over 2.7m passengers passed through the Lagos Airport In 2014

The Comptroller of Immigration, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMA), Lagos, Mrs. Chizoba Dibi, said that the command processed a total of 2,785,458 passengers at the airport in 2014.

She disclosed this when the Comptroller General of Immigration (CGI), Mr. Martins Abeshi, visited the airport recently.

A breakdown of this figure, according to the MMIA Immigration boss, indicated that 1,294,010 of the figure processed were arriving passengers while 1,491 passengers were departing passengers.

Here are the world’s most-connected airports 2015

Aviation data analytics firm OAG, a global air travel intelligence company has published information on the world’s most-connected airports.

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (ATL) is the world’s largest Megahhub

This was measured by the ratio of scheduled connections to the number of destinations served by the airport.

South African Airways adds Abuja to its entry point in Nigeria

South African Airways (SAA) is ready to commence flights from a second entry point in Nigeria after announcing plans for its Abuja take-off.

The airline believes adding a second gateway in Nigeria to SAA’s existing daily service to Lagos materially strengthens its position in West Africa where it plays a significant role in enabling the movement of goods and people between Southern Africa and West Africa.

NIS boss warns airport officials against illegal repatriation of foreigners

The Assistant Comptroller General, Zone A, Lagos, Mr. Musa Maza, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Wednesday warned the agency’s personnel attached to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos against engaging in illegal repatriation of foreigners from the country.

Speaking at MMIA during his maiden tour of the facilities at the airport, Maza warned that any officer caught in illegal repatriation of foreigners without following due process would be severely sanctioned by the authority, stressing that the Zone would not tolerate any act of indiscipline from any of its staff.

On the issuance of Visas to the citizens of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Maza insisted that the three months agreement within the states must be sustained by all the officers unless such a traveller requested otherwise.

Officers of FAAN, immigration clash at Lagos airport

Flight operations and other activities were on Tuesday disrupted at the Lagos international airport, following a clash between officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigeria Immigration Service.

BA offers upgraded meal option to passengers on economy

Taste of the Far East meal

British Airways will add a sixth upgraded meal option for its long-haul economy passengers next week.

From October 26, World Traveller passengers flying from London Heathrow will be able to sample the “Taste of the Far East” choice for £16.