Aviation industry names Turkish Airlines the airline of the year

Turkish Airlines and Russia's flagship carrier Aeroflot were among the big winners of an industry event that gathered aviation leaders in Salzburg, Austria.

In the 2016 edition of the Air Transport News Awards Ceremony, Turkish Airlines nabbed the title of Airline of the Year, while the Readers' Choice Award went to Russia's flagship carrier Aeroflot.

Bilateral Air Service Agreement will impoverish Nigerian airlines, economy- Experts

Experts in the aviation industry have said that the recent Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) signed between the federal government and Qatar will rather than strengthen the domestic airlines, impoverish the nation’s airlines and economy.

The agreement which is expected to pave way for more direct flights between major cities of both countries, on the principle of reciprocity by the designated airlines, on behalf of the countries have been viewed by experts as an unprofitable venture.

Minister Dragged Into Airlines Proxy War

Minister of state for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has been accused of championing the fight by foreign airlines to blackmail the federal government for preferential treatment.

Industry sources said yesterday that Sirika is seeking audience with President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss the alleged plans by foreign airlines to sack 2,000 Nigerians on their staff.

The plans have, however, been found to be a ruse as all foreign airlines in Nigeria have less than 400 employees, a fact that could not have been lost on the minister.

In a series of blusters to force the Nigerian government to release about $1.3billion foreign exchange allegedly held in Nigeria, the foreign airlines have leaned on domestic labour unions, threatened to raise fares by 100 per cent, and even instigated the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) to issue a warning that it could impound any aircraft belonging to Nigerian carriers.

Angry Nigerian pilots, engineers ground Bristow Helicopters operations

Passengers of Bristow Helicopters in Port Harcourt, Rivers state were left stranded as the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers of Nigeria an affiliate of Trade Union Congress, TUC, as early as 6:30am stormed Bristow Helicopters and shut down all its offices in Port Harcourt thereby grounding all flight schedules today.

NAAPEN, Isaac Balami led the protesters along side national officials and the state Chairman of TUC to shut down the operations of Bristow Airlines in Port Harcourt.

According to Balami “For the past ten years our pilots and engineers working with Bristow Helicopters have suffered untold hardship due to discriminatory and slavish policies of the management of Bristow Helicopters. They treat them like they are in a slave camp. You will see a co-pilot who just has 200hrs experience from UK, South Africa and Canada earning far more than their Nigerian counterparts who have been working for years.

Foreign Airlines Claim Of 2,000 Staff False — Stakeholders

Stakeholders in the aviation sector have described as outrageous and false the claim that foreign airlines plan to sack over 2,000 workers, insisting that the airlines do not have such number on their staff.

Reacting to the issue, aviation consultant and former corporate affairs manager of Nigeria Airways, Chris Aligbe, insisted that there is no way the foreign airlines will have up to 2,000 Nigerian workers.

“This has been the issue we have been handling for some time now because these people come into Nigeria and employ mostly foreigners, while our own people are not considered. Now they claim that they have about 2,000 staff; from where did they come from?

Nigeria: Dana, Overland, Air Peace To Clinch IOSA Certification Soon

Dana Air, Overland, Air Peace, and Allied Air and Cargo Services – are about to earn the much coveted international IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) Certification in the industry. Tanja Grobotek, The IATA’s regional director for Africa who disclosed this, also confirmed that the IOSA certifications have been obtained by Arik Air, FirstNation Airways, and Aero Contractors.

Grobotek said that while Dana, Overland and Allied Air and Cargo Services are currently on the verge of securing the IOSA certification, Air Peace has done its last workshop and is about to be audited.

Flydubai Plane crash in Russia kills all 62 people on board

All 62 people aboard a passenger jet flying from Dubai to southern Russia were killed when their plane crashed on its second attempt to land at Rostov-on-Don airport on Saturday, Russian officials said.

Russia’s emergencies ministry said the aircraft, a Boeing (BA.N) 737-800 operated by Dubai-based budget carrier Flydubai, crashed at 0340 (0040 GMT). Most of those on board were Russian.

“The aircraft hit the ground and broke into pieces,” the Investigative Committee of Russia said in a statement on its website. “There were 55 passengers aboard and seven crew members. They all died.”

Visa Rules For Nigerian Traveling To Morocco

Who requires the Moroccan visitor visa for travel from Nigeria?

Moroccan tourist visa is issued for a short period of leisure travel and no business pursuits allowed. A tourist visa stamp or label placed by a Moroccan visa official on your passport that permits you to go to Morocco.
Holiday visa for Morocco usually are obtained through the Moroccan consulate in Abuja or in the closest city to your usual residential address. When applying for a Moroccan tourist visa, you can be requested to explain the purposes for planing a trip to Morocco.
Sources www.linksandtours.co.uk

Nigeria: Ekiti legislator backs Fayose on airport construction.

The plan by Ekiti state governor to construct an airport in the State has been applauded by an Ekiti lawmaker for his foresight in a bid to transform the economy of the state.

Princess Titilayo Owolabi Akerele representing Ikole ll constituency in the Ekiti State House of Assembly who commended governor Fayose while fielding questions from aviation correspondents at Ikeja, said the proposed airport when completed will boost the economy of the state.

According to Titi Akerele, there was nothing wrong in having an airport in Ekiti to facilitate movement of people if the state has the financial backings stressing that it will transform the state.

“If there is financial backing to build the airport there is nothing wrong in having an airport in Ekiti. If you look at the road connection between Ondo and Ekiti, the roads are bad”

The lawmaker who was a two time national president of Aeronautical Information Service of Nigeria AISAN,  explained that the government was not thinking of constructing an international airport but considering building one that will accommodate aircraft. “To me as an aviator, I don’t see anything wrong with that and I am not trying to be sentimental”

NANTA Condemns State of Nigeria’s International Airports

 

The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has expressed worry over the current state of Nigeria’s international airports, including the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos; Mallam Aminu Kano International airport, Kano and the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, saying the airports have suffered serious neglect and infrastructural decay over the years.

Hotel lodgers in Akwa Ibom to pay tax on alcohol consumption

In a bid to generate more revenue, the Akwa Ibom state government has announced that henceforth, tax will be paid for consumption of alcohol in hotels and beers parlous in the state. 

This was made known by the Akwa Ibom state Commissioner for Finance, Akan Okon, on Saturday while speaking in Uyo, the state capital. 

“Some people who lodge in hotels and consume alcohol will henceforth pay taxes to the state government.”

“The focus is to look inward to see how the various opportunities that are available in the state can be harnessed to raise the Internally Generated Revenue(IGR),” the commissioner said. 

Dana Air Partners Vlisco to Celebrate Women’s Day

Dana Air has announced that it would partner with Vlisco, the manufacturer of premium Dutch wax fabrics, popularly called Hollandais to mark the International Women’s Day celebration.

 

The airline also plans to give out gifts to some women aboard its flights on that day and Vlisco premium brands would be part of the gifts lucky women who travel with the airline would get.

According to the Accountable Manager of Dana Air, Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo, Dana Air is proud to partner Vlisco to celebrate and compensate its female guests on the auspicious occasion of the International Women’s Day coming up on March 8, 2016.

El-Rufai Canvasses Favourable Policies to Uplift Local Airlines

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El- Rufai has called on the federal government to adopt policies geared towards boosting the growth of indigenous airlines.

Specifically, the governor said such policies should be favourable to the local operators by reducing heavy financial burden on them and enabling them to operate profitably.

NCAA issues 72hrs ultimatum to airlines operating Sikorsky S76C series

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has issued 72 hours ultimatum to all helicopter companies operating Sikorsky S76C series to immediately carry out safety audit on their entire fleets. NCAA threatened that any company that refuses to comply with the safety audit directive would be dealt with in accordance with the law. It directed all such operators to repeat such audit in the chopper brand every 300 flight hours until further notice. Companies operating Sikorsky S76C series in the industry are Caverton Helicopter, Aero Contractors and Bristow Helicopters. NCAA in a statement by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Sam Adurogboye said the directive was contained in a letter earlier dispatched to all operators of the affected helicopters types.

Holiday Inn opens in Canadian capital

IHG has opened its latest property in the Canadian capital Ottawa. The former Chimo Hotel has been rebranded as the Holiday Inn Ottawa East following a $9 million renovation programme.

Facilities at the 261-room hotel include an indoor swimming pool, fitness centre, Reza’s Kitchen restaurant, 8,500 square feet of meeting space, and free wifi throughout.

Delta set s to launch business class menus by NY restaurant Union Square Café

Delta has agreed a partnership with New York restaurant Union Square Café to offer new menus for its Business Delta One customers.

The restaurant’s executive chef and partner Carmen Quagliata has designed new dishes for Delta’s business class passengers, including beef short rib stracotto, Gulf shrimp and polenta, and baked Paccheri basil cream pasta.

 

The menu will feature “hyper local” ingredients including fresh basil from Brooklyn-based Gotham Greens, and produce from other New York firms including Mountain Sweet Berry Farms, Five Acre Farms and Cascun Farms.

How To Reach KLM If My Flight Is Cancelled?

If your flight is delayed or cancelled you, of course, want to know as soon as possible what to expect. In some instances KLM will contact you directly. If this is impossible, because staff are too busy in the event of a major disruption, these are the quickest ways to find out what the situation is and how it affects your travel plans.

If KLM cancels a flight, we inform you by text message, email or telephone. It is therefore important that you provide your contact details when you make a booking. We will inform you of the available rebooking options or let you know if you have already been rebooked. Your new travel schedule and boarding pass will be available at KLM.com (log in to MyTrip), the KLM App, and our self-service kiosks at the airport.

 

Serious disruptions to air traffic due to fog, snow or an ash cloud, put all KLM service agents under pressure. It is possible that under these circumstances we may not be able to reach you on time. We understand if you would prefer not to wait, but to contact us yourself.

BA launches new iPad app

British Airways has launched a new iPad version of its mobile travel app, with extra features including a 3D globe for flight searches.

Users can create a viewing plan for the in-flight entertainment on their flight, by dragging and dropping for the menu of available TV shows, movies and music.

The interactive 3D globe allows travellers to search and book flights, and boarding passes can be downloaded “with a bar code produced in each of the iPad’s four corners, for ease of use at the gate”.

Commenting on the launch of the new iPad app, Sara Dunham, BA’s head of marketing retail and direct channels said:

Virgin flight turns back after "laser incident"

Virgin Atlantic was forced to return one of its transatlantic flights to Heathrow shortly after take off, following a "laser-beam incident".

The New York-bound Airbus A340 service was on its way to New York when one of its pilots was apparently "dazzled" by a laser beam pointed at the cockpit.

The BBC news website has published an air traffic control recording of the incident her, in which a crew member reports "a medical issue with one of the pilots after a laser incident after take-off".

Historic Liverpool bank to become luxury hotel

The historic Grade II-listed Martin’s Bank building in Liverpool is to be transformed into a luxury hotel.

Located on Water Street close to the city’s Liverpool One development, the neo classical building dates back to 1932, and will now be converted into a 227-room hotel with spa facilities, bar and fine dining restaurant.

The building was the hiding place for much of the UK’s gold reserves during the Second World War – the transferral of the gold by train to the bank was the subject of the award-winning The Bullion Boys starring David Jason.