February 2023 - Aviation metric

Ogun Cargo Airport: Relishing The Audacity Of Vision

Posted on February 28, 2023 by Wole Shadare

With work yet to be fully completed, the Ogun agro cargo airport recorded its first test flights last week Thursday to the joy of many. Not a few believe that with the airport expected to commence cargo and passenger operations this year, it would act as a catalyst for economic growth, writes, WOLE SHADARE So long, so good For more than 16 years, it looked like a dream that could only materialize on paper. The hiccup…

Jubilation as first airplanes land at Ogun new airport

Posted on February 23, 2023February 23, 2023 by Wole Shadare

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun made good his promise to deliver an airport to the state as the aerodrome witnessed the historic official landing of the maiden test flights. The Ogun State Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport at Iperu-Ilishan Road, Ikene local government.in Ogun State was a project whose idea was mooted 16 years by former Governor Gbenga Daniel but never left the conception state until 2021 when Abiodun, buoyed by a determination to…

Economics of narrow-body aircraft for Nigerian operators

Posted on February 22, 2023 by Wole Shadare

Narrow-body aircraft like Embraer 195-E2, Embraer 147, ATR aircraft series, and Bombardier Q400 among other smaller aircraft sizes are set to spearhead Nigeria’s airline industry’s recovery over the next decade as airlines adjust their fleets and operating models for a squeezed travel market, writes, WOLE SHADARE Paradigm shift Many Nigerian airline operators are seeing the sense or gains of operating narrow-body aircraft. There is a paradigm shift in the way established Nigerian airlines are thinking just…

Okonkwo: The focus of any airline is to manage costs

Posted on February 22, 2023 by Wole Shadare

The Chief Operating Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Chief Osita Okonkwo speaks to WOLE SHADARE on the challenges faced by airlines which have made them seek better ways of remaining in business How have your operations been in the last two years? On February 12th, 2021 we did our inaugural flight and it was a flight that took us from Lagos to Enugu. That happened just a few days after we obtained our AOC. That period was towards…

High Operating Costs Worry Airlines’ Investment

Posted on February 20, 2023 by Wole Shadare

The Chief Operating Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Osita Okonkwo, said the escalating costs in airline operations, which have grown rapidly, have become one of the problems of airlines in the country. He noted that the rate of escalation of costs of operation was mind-boggling, leaving the operators with adjustments in fares. Okonkwo, while speaking with Aviation Metric at the weekend, said: “If you look at the cost structure of every operation, first of all,…

Dana cancels flights over aircraft shortage

Posted on February 20, 2023 by Wole Shadare

Non-schedule maintenance, bad weather reason for cancellations-Source Carrier apologises to customers The dearth of airplanes has led to the cancellation, albeit temporarily of Dana Airlines flights. Although nobody knows when the suspension of flights would last, there are indications that it could last for days depending on when the airline’s planes that had been ferried for checks would return. While some adduced the shortage of Dana airplanes for the epileptic services it is providing,…

South Africa to ease visa burden for Nigerians, trade hits $3 billion

Posted on February 19, 2023February 19, 2023 by Wole Shadare

SA to celebrate 29 years diplomatic relations with Nigeria in April For quite some time now, obtaining a South African visa has become increasingly difficult for Nigerians and the processes involved could be metaphorically likened to a camel passing through the eye of a needle. Worried by the incessant complaints by many Nigerians who have their passports kept with the South Africa High Commission in Nigeria for months for the simple reason that applicants’…

Despite high int’l, domestic ticket costs, Nigerian passenger traffic soars

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Wole Shadare

Expert lists high economic activities, mass exodus, others as reason African World Airways operated most flights by African airline ValueJet records lowest delayed flights Despite the high costs of airfares on both international and domestic routes, more travelers took to air travel last year according to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The figure is one million higher than the traffic recorded in 2021. High cost of fares had elicited concerns among travelers and…

Air India’s historic deal could swell to 840 jets with 370 options

Posted on February 16, 2023February 16, 2023 by Wole Shadare

India’s flag carrier and the latest addition to Tata Group’s aviation portfolio, Air India is only a step away from making aviation history, with a potential deal set to nearly double its recently announced mammoth order of 470 aircraft from leading manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing. Record-breaking order If finalised, the new deal will bring Air India’s total orders to 840 aircraft, marking the biggest aircraft order in the history of aviation, in a bold endeavour…

Lagos to deploy Cessna for state’s aerial mapping

Posted on February 16, 2023February 16, 2023 by Wole Shadare

Omni-Blu facilitates aircraft importation, monitors operations In a bid to provide enhanced infrastructure and re-determine its land mass for economic development, the Lagos State Government has concluded plans to embark on aerial mapping of the state. The State Government said that the exercise, which would commence very soon, would last for six to eight weeks, depending on the weather condition. A Cessna 406 aircraft would be deployed for the exercise. Speaking at the unveiling…