Wole Shadare, Author at Aviation metric

Babalakin inspects MMA2 facility ahead of regional operations kickoff

Posted on October 29, 2026October 29, 2026 by Wole Shadare

Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operator of Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), Lagos, Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN), has carried out a comprehensive inspection of key facilities at the terminal as preparations gather momentum for the commencement of regional flight operations. The inspection follows a landmark settlement agreement that resolved the long-standing MMA2 concession dispute, a key regulatory step clearing the path for the private terminal operator to expand beyond domestic routes into…

IATA raises alarm as airline payment processing costs surge to $24.5 billion

Posted on October 27, 2026October 27, 2026 by Wole Shadare

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has sounded the alarm about rising payment processing costs, revealing that airlines worldwide spent $24.5 billion to process $1.05 trillion in travel sales in 2025. According to fresh data from the clearing house for over 300 global airlines, payment processing costs jumped 10.4% from 2023, far outpacing the 7.7% growth in overall travel sales over the same period, which rose from $977 billion. The figures underscore a stark…

Breaking the 19-Year Jinx: How MMA2 resolution reclaimed Nigeria’s aviation PPP future

Posted on October 27, 2026October 27, 2026 by Wole Shadare

For years, the legal battles surrounding MMA2 served as a cautionary tale regarding policy instability, contractual risks, and enforcement challenges in Nigerian infrastructure concessions, writes WOLE SHADARE For nearly two decades, travellers navigating Lagos’s bustling transport arteries faced a stark contradiction. On one side stood the sleek, glass-and-steel facade of Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2) Nigeria’s flagship privately operated domestic airport terminal, engineered and built by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) under the leadership…

UK carriers hit Nigeria flight ceiling, can’t expand operations without regulatory review

Posted on October 26, 2026October 26, 2026 by Wole Shadare

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways currently stand no chance of increasing their flight frequencies into Nigeria, having fully exhausted their allocated slots under the existing Nigeria–United Kingdom Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA). The exhaustion of the UK carriers’ quota now presents a golden opportunity for Nigerian airlines to equalise the long-standing flight imbalance between both nations. Under the current BASA framework, designated UK airlines are capped at a combined total of 21 weekly frequencies…

Tinubu appoints Keyamo to lead APC air mobilisation directorate, Farouk Umar, Kuku as dep. directors

Posted on October 25, 2026October 26, 2026 by Wole Shadare

In a strategic move to strengthen logistics and ensure seamless nationwide reach ahead of the 2027 general elections, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, to head the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council’s Directorate of Air Mobilisation. Farouk Umar and Keyamo Keyamo will lead the newly established strategic operational unit, anchored by top aviation sector leaders. The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria…

Dawodu tasks aviation sector on bridging skill gaps for Next-Gen professionals

Posted on October 25, 2026October 25, 2026 by Wole Shadare

The convener of the 8th Explore Aviation Careers Conference, Tolulope Dawodu, emphasised the urgent need to bridge the gap between youth aspirations and industry opportunities in an increasingly fast-paced global aviation landscape. She spoke at the 8th Explore Aviation Careers Conference 2026, which brought together aviation industry leaders, regulators, seasoned professionals, and aspiring talent under the theme, “Navigating the Future: Building Careers in a Dynamic Industry.” Addressing a packed audience of future pilots, engineers,…

Virgin Atlantic reaffirms commitment to Nigeria as Lagos route reaches 25-year milestone

Posted on October 25, 2026October 26, 2026 by Wole Shadare

Virgin Atlantic executives gathered in Lagos to celebrate a quarter-century of connecting Nigeria to the United Kingdom and mark the 25th anniversary of the carrier’s London–Lagos route. Speaking with Aviation Metric at a ceremony to mark the carrier’s 25 years of operations in Nigeria in Lagos, the Chief Commercial Officer Dave Geer highlighted Nigeria’s central role in the airline’s global network, attributing the route’s longevity and strong performance to deep-rooted partnerships, growing local demand, and…

Aisuebeogun at summit: Why Nigeria needs resilient transport system to survive external shocks

Posted on October 23, 2026October 23, 2026 by Wole Shadare

Says conflicts driving up travel costs Conflicts in major energy-producing regions and severe disruptions along critical global trade routes are escalating operating costs across Nigeria’s transport ecosystem, threatening service reliability and economic growth. Dr Richard Aisuebeogun, a transport expert and former Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), raised the alarm at the second edition of the Transport Summit, themed “Navigating Global Disruption and The Road Ahead.” Aisuebeogun stated that geopolitical friction…

Babalakin lauds Tinubu over 19 years BASL, FG dispute resolution, pledges mass job creation

Posted on October 22, 2026October 22, 2026 by Wole Shadare

Says infrastructure growth after concession underway The Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Dr Wale Babalakin, SAN, has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following the historic signing of a settlement agreement that permanently resolves the protracted 19-year legal and commercial impasse surrounding the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), Lagos. Babalakin described the breakthrough as a landmark victory not just for the concessionaire, but for Nigeria’s entire aviation sector and the business landscape. Speaking…

Air Peace strengthens leadership pipeline with key flight operations appointments

Posted on October 21, 2026October 21, 2026 by Wole Shadare

In a strategic move to strengthen leadership capacity, deepen operational expertise, and sustain its growth trajectory, Air Peace, has promoted two senior flight crew members to key executive roles. Effective November 1, 2026, Captain James Adaviruku Onipe will serve as Director of Flight Operations (DFO), while Captain Ikechukwu Paul-Ugochukwu will serve as Chief Pilot (CP). The airline said the strategic appointments underscore its commitment to developing seasoned aviation professionals, strengthening its executive structure, and driving…

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