Nigeria Air and the downsides of state-owned enterprises

The Federal Government via the Minister of Aviation announced the official name and branding for what is to be a new airline last week. Tagged Nigeria Air, the minister said the airline will be the new flag carrier for Nigeria with plans to start operations by December of this year and operate 30 aircrafts within the next three to four years.
The announcement was received back home with a lot of polarization, with people either strongly in favour or strongly against the venture.

Nigeria’s Aviation minister Hadi Sirika speaks folloing a press conference at the Farnborough Airshow, south west of London, on July 18, 2018. The Nigerian government launched plans on Wednesday to create new flag carrier airline Nigeria Air by the end of this year. “I am pleased to tell you that we are finally on track to launching a new national flag carrier for our country: Nigeria Air,” Sirika announced.<br />Adrian DENNIS / AFP

I am in the ‘strongly against’ camp, mostly because in most instances state-owned enterprises tend to be damaging, not just to government finances, but to sectoral growth as well.

Passenger traffic continues strong growth in May

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced global passenger traffic results for May, showing that demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometers, or RPKs) rose 6.1 per cent compared to the same month in 2017.

Lekki Conservation Centre Tour

Description

Exploring Lekki Conservation Centre with us is easy on this tour from Lagos. We will pick you up from your hotel or from a agreed location and we take you straight to the Lekki Conservation Centre, where you will spot animals like birds and monkeys and ther rest in the wild as you walk across the longest canopy walk in Africa. Thoughtful inclusions like light refreshments round out the experience.

UAE Announces New Rule For Tourist Visas

Tourists traveling to the UAE during the summer won't need to pay visas fees for dependents aged and below, the UAE cabinet annunced on Sunday.

The fee exemption will be applicable between July 15th and September 15 every year and is expected to boost tourist numbers during the off peakseason.

The decision follows the exemption of trnasit tourists from visa fees for the first 48 hours. 

Travel agents in the UAE have welcomed the move, saying it would help boost tourism during the summer.

Child Born in the UK Can Apply for British Citizenship | UKVI || UKBA || UK IMMIGRATION | 2018 HD

FG woos investors at national carrier’s London unveiling

The Federal Government (FG) will next week unveil the new national carrier at the Farnborough International Public Airshow in London, as part of measures to attract more investors to the new airline. 

A complete list of banned items on an airplane

 

Handbag/checked: The following items are completely banned from aircraft, and should not be brought to the airport:

These include you handbag, carry-on bag and your checked bag.

Explosive and Incendiary Materials: Gunpowder (including black powder and percussion caps), dynamite, blasting caps, fireworks, flares, plastic explosives, grenades, replicas of incendiary devices, and replicas of plastic explosives.

AMCON to sell its shares in Aero Contractors

Aero

Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has confirmed plans to sell its shares in Aero Contractors airlines.

Chief Executive Officer of the airlines, Captain Ado Sanusi, disclosed this, adding that investors have started to indicate interest in the airlines.

KLM upgrades economy class service

Royal Dutch Airlines, KLM, has announced plans to upgrade its Economy Class service aboard intercontinental flights.

In the new schedule, at the start of an intercontinental flight, Economy Class passengers will receive a bottle of water, a refreshing towel and earphones, which means they can immediately get set for their journey. After this welcome service, passengers will be offered an extended choice of meals on flights out of Amsterdam.

Air Peace decorates first female captain

Sinmisola Ajibola, a pilot, has become the first female captain to be decorated by Air Peace airlines.

Sinmisola, who joined Air Peace in February 2017 as a Senior First Officer (SFO), made history as the airline’s first female captain. She is from a family of pilots – father and four brothers, three of whom are with Air Peace.

Camair-Co returns to Lagos-Doula route

Cameroon Airlines Corporation (Camair-Co) has made a return to Doula-Lagos route after years of absence.

The Consul General of Cameroon in Lagos, Dr. Ekorong A. Dong, at the welcome ceremony held at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, expressed delight to see the airline back to the economic route of Douala-Lagos, describing it “a new benchmark, a new landmark between Nigeria and Cameroon.”

Airlines retain ticket rates amid end to 5% VAT

 

Air travellers expecting marginal review of fares following the recent removal of mandatory five per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on transportation may have to wait longer.

Airlines operators, who though lauded the gesture, saw the development as more of compensation to the airlines that are over burdened by multiple charges, than gains to the passengers that have “usually been flying low-cost”.

Appointment System in Place at the VFS

There is currently an appointment system in place at the VFS (South African Visa Section) Lagos.

Applicants wishing to travel for business, tourism, attending a conference or religious purposes, can request an appointment by sending an email to apptlagossa@vfshelpline.com with the following details and a copy of their passport data page;

Aviation records growth with 14.1m passenger traffic

Muritala Muhammud International Airport, Lagos.PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN

Stakeholders to brainstorm at airport business summit, expo
Initial conflicting figures notwithstanding, the harmonised data of the aviation industry has shown a positive outlook for air travel business, with marginal growth across the board in 2017.

Travel agencies unveil ID card to check fakery, fraud

NANTA president, Bankole Bernard

Travel agencies in the country are set to launch a new Identification (ID) card as part of efforts to check fakery and fraud in the industry.The Nigeria Travel Practitioners Identification Card (NTPIC), to be unveiled on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, in Lagos, is a joint effort of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), the umbrella body for all travel agencies in Nigeria, and the Nigerian civil aviation authority (NCAA).

Jet fuel microbial study gets foreign recognition, partnership

• CITA presents findings to IATA, global audience
A pioneering local study on microbial contamination of aviation fuel and its handling system in tropical Africa has gained the buy-in of the international aviation community, with foreign firms set to support further studies.

IATA enlists Dana Air on IGOM registry

Dana Air

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has enlisted Dana Air on the International Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) registry in recognition of the airline’s commitment to quality service delivery. 

NCAA to review two planes’ requirement for commercial airlines

Capt. Muhtar Usman

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is to review the provision of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation (Nig. CARS) 2015 that prescribes at least two serviceable aircraft as condition for granting of Air Operating Certificates (AOCs) to commercial airlines.

Airbus to break up unwanted A380 superjumbo jets

Aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, has revealed plans to break up the A380 superjumbo jets after failed bids to attract buyers.

The development, a fresh blow to Airbus business, is coming just a decade after two of the industry’s largest jets debuted. 

Philippine Airlines’ new Airbus A350 takes first flight

The first of six Airbus A350-900 aircraft set to be delivered to Philippine Airlines has taken its maiden flight from Airbus’s industrial facility in Toulouse, France.