The industry went into wild jubilation when the government announced in the last quarter of last year that it had purchased a new set of Instrument Landing System (ILS) CAT 3 to be precise for Lagos and Abuja airports respectively which was installed while the functional CAT 2 ILS in these airports were moved to other airports in the country. The icing on the cake was another announcement that informed of the arrival of a…
Read MoreMonth: February 2020
Mitigating agony of flight diversions, cancellations
The past one week witnessed perhaps unforeseen flight diversions and cancellations. While it lasted, it left a bitter pill in the mouth of airlines, passengers and the nation for the huge embarrassment. WOLE SHADARE writes that never shall the country witness such huge economic losses again Shock amid new equipment The recent flight delays and cancellations experienced by airlines came as a shock and embarrassment to the nation. It was shocking in the sense that it…
Read MoreNigeria inches towards new national carrier, approves new roadmap
FG to hold minority stake in new airline Bidders shortlisted, Egypt Air, Ethiopian to set up leasing firm Arrangements are in top gears to birth a new national carrier for the country as the Federal Government has approved new road map for aviation. The Minister of Aviation in his verified Twitter handle @hadisirika yesterday said, “The new approved Aviation Roadmap is on course”, adding, “We had investor conference yesterday as promised”. He disclosed that…
Read MoreDiversions: Airlines recorded losses over unbudgeted commitments
The estimated cost of flight diversions and cancellations by airlines can never be quantified as many of the carriers are still computing figures. Events in the past one week had been horrendous for passengers and airlines occasioned by harmattan haze over Lagos that made it extremely difficult for airlines to operate as scheduled to Lagos. While domestic airlines had their own fair share of flight disruptions and cancellations, foreign airlines were the hardest hits…
Read MoreWhy Nigeria has growing unemployed pilots, by NCAT CEO/Rector
Capt Abdulsalam Mohammed, CEO/ Rector, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, in this interview with WOLE SHADARE at the just concluded MRO Africa, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, speaks on turning around the institution to provide human capital development amongst others What are the take away from the MRO conference? Actually I have been here for the last five days. We hold council meetings of the association of aviation training organisations, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT)…
Read MoreN10bn debt: NAMA to re-introduce ‘pay as you go’ as deadline draws close
Agency survives on IGR amid dwindling revenues As the deadline draws closer for airlines to reconcile their debts, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has said there was no going back in its action to recover close to N10billion owed it by airlines. Speaking to Woleshadarenews, Managing Director of the agency, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, said NAMA has concluded plans to re-introduce the Pay As You Go system to airlines before they are cleared for take-off. To…
Read MoreFAAN Vs I-Cube: Legal fire works to begin as agency violates court order
Authority received N68m monthly despite contract ‘termination’ Legal fireworks have begun between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and one of its major concessionaires, I-Cube West Africa over termination of the former’s concession deal through the back door. I-Cube West Africa was contracted ten years to manage the very lucrative Murtala Muhammed Airport Access toll gates. The toll gates are one of the major non-aeronautical revenue earners for the agency. This is coming…
Read MoreForeign airlines land, take-off as NAMA completes equipment calibration at Lagos airport
incorrect reading discovered in initial calibration-Minister Foreign airlines that before now diverted Lagos bound flights to Accra, Ghana and other places are now landing their air planes following the calibration of the newly acquired, state-of the art category III Instrument Landing System (ILS). The equipment is an upgrade on the category 2 ILS which had been in use for many years at many of the country’s international airports. The new navigational aids helps to make…
Read MoreWhy our passengers were stranded in Accra, by British Airways
Apologise to customers Mega carrier, British Airways has explained why some of its passengers were left stranded in Accra, Ghana following the diversion of flights occasioned by Harmattan haze that disrupted air travel. For four days, many foreign had to divert flights to Lagos over inclement weather coupled with insufficient landing aids at the airport. International airlines like BA, Emirates, Delta, Ethiopian Airways and others lost estimated N3b to the natural phenomenon that grounded their…
Read MoreUnited Airlines, Vistara Launch Code-share Agreement
United Airlines and Vistara have announced the start of a new code-share agreement allowing United customers to book travel on 68 Vistara-operated flights to 26 destinations throughout India for travel beginning February 28. The code-share builds on the agreement between the airlines in which MileagePlus and Vistara’s loyalty program members earn and redeem miles when flying on either of the airline’s route network. The United and Vistara agreement offers customers a simplified experience when planning travel between dozens…
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