July 2020 - Aviation metric

FAAN can’t meet N3b wage bill, slashes salaries by 50%

Posted on July 30, 2020July 30, 2020 by Wole Shadare

**Unions kick, mobilize for showdown next week **Agency’s staff strength rises to 8000, 4000 pensioners The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the financial underbelly of many of the aviation agencies, particularly, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as the airports authority can no longer meet its monthly N3 billion spent on salaries and wages occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic. The huge monthly wage bill of the agency said to run into more than…

Kenya Airways Resumes International Passenger Flights

Posted on July 30, 2020July 30, 2020 by Wole Shadare

Kenya Airways (KQ) will be resuming its international passenger services on August 1, 2020 following the easing of movement restrictions as directed by President Uhuru Kenyatta. The first international flights on August 1st 2020 will depart to the following international destinations; London, Dubai, Addis Ababa, Kigali, Dares Salaam and Lusaka. During the month there will be a gradual increase in the network with flights to Paris, Mumbai and Amsterdam. In Africa, the airline will…

AIB begins Middle East, Turkish airlines’ collision probe

Posted on July 30, 2020 by Wole Shadare

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) said it has commenced investigation into a serious incident involving an Airbus A330-243 with the Nationality registration Marks OD-MEA operated by Middle East Airline and a Boeing 777 with nationality and registration Marks TC-LJC operated by Turkish Airline , which occurred on July 29th, 2020 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Spokesman for the agency, Tunji Oketunbi in a statement said the Turkish cargo aircraft was parked at the…

B747 Discontinued, 777X Delayed, 737 Max Output Reduced, Airbus loses $1.4b Q2

Posted on July 30, 2020July 30, 2020 by Wole Shadare

**Boeing reports $2.4bn quarterly loss **Scales back jet production Aircraft giant, Boeing said it would stop producing the iconic 747 jumbo jet in 2022, which is also when 777X launch customer Emirates will receive its first mini jumbo – a year later than previously planned. The US plane maker will also be reducing output of its 777s, 787 Dreamliners and previously best-selling 737 Max aircraft in the wake of the pandemic and its impact…

Nigeria Ratifies Air Transport Pact With U.S.

Posted on July 30, 2020 by Wole Shadare

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the ratification of Air Transport Agreement between Nigeria and the United States. The air transport bilateral agreement will strengthen economic, social and cultural ties between the two countries. The Council also approved the new National Forest Policy for the country to replace the old one formulated in 2006. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who stood in for the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this…

African airlines forecast to lose $2b in 2020-IATA

Posted on July 29, 2020July 29, 2020 by Wole Shadare

**Five African countries account for 19% traffic in the continent As a consequence of the pandemic and associated restrictions, African airlines are forecast to lose $2 billion in 2020. Without urgent financial relief, the industry is at risk of collapse, putting about 3.3 million jobs and $33 billion in African GPD in jeopardy according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). To date, the governments of Sub-Saharan Africa Rwanda, Senegal, Côte D’Ivoire and Burkina Faso…

Middle East, Turkish in wing tip, tail collision at Lagos airport

Posted on July 29, 2020July 29, 2020 by Wole Shadare

**Aircraft grounded There was a mild incident today as an aircraft belonging to Middle Airlines had a collision on ground with Turkish Airlines. The incident was said to have occurred when Middle East airplane was coming to park on the apron while that of Turkish Airlines was planning to depart from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The two airplanes are currently parked at the Lagos airport waiting for assessment to determine the extent…

Emirates resumes Nairobi, Africa flights as Dubai opens for business

Posted on July 29, 2020July 29, 2020 by Wole Shadare

As Dubai opens for business, Emirates has announced it will resume flights to Nairobi (from 2 August), Baghdad and Basra (from 10 August). The world’s fastest growing airline is thus expanding its growing network, and offering customers in Africa and around the world more convenient connections to Dubai, and via Dubai. This will take the airline’s passenger network to 67 destinations in August, including seven points in Africa and five points in the Middle East. This…

Passenger Traffic Won’t Recover To Pre-Covid Levels Until 2024

Posted on July 29, 2020 by Wole Shadare

Airlines around the world are in the coronavirus crisis for the long-haul with global passenger traffic not expected return to pre-Covid-19 levels until 2024, a year later than previously projected. That is according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which has forecast that while short-haul travel is still expected to recover faster than long-haul travel, global passenger numbers for 2020 will decline by 55% compared to 2019, worsened from the April forecast of…

Osinbajo crash plane pilots lack landing technique, company’s procedure-Report

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Wole Shadare

*AIB warns airlines over doctoring CVR The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has attributed inappropriate landing technique used and non-adherence to company procedures by pilots of a chartered Carverton Helicopter by Vice President Osinbajo led to the accident in Okene, Kogi State. This is coming as the Commissioner, AIB, Akin Olateru warned that any airline found wanting in tampering with recordings of Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) in the event of crash or serious incidents would…