Author: Wole Shadare

  **Airlines lack reserve to sustain operations **Carriers’ ability to resist shock non-existent Stakeholders have taken a holistic look at the aviation industry and came to a conclusion that the sector urgently needs a rescue. In a Webinar coordinated by Tokunbo Orimobi Foundation, with theme, “The Aviation Sector-Before, During and After COVID-19 ,” and monitored by Woleshadarenews, the experts passed a verdict that the industry in Nigeria is on life support and requires urgent assistance and synergy…

  ***Funds needed to upgrade decrepit airport infrastructure ***Action may cause fare hike There are indications that both domestic and international air travel would cost more as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will on August 1, 2020 begin the implementation of new Passenger Service Charge (PSC) increment from  N1000 to N2000 for domestic flight operations and  from the former $50 to $100 for international passengers. This will definitely lead to an increase in air fare…

Ahead of flight resumption, Nigerian carrier Dana Air on Wednesday carried out a dry run at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2) and shakedown flights from Lagos to Port Harcourt and back. According to a statement by the airline’s Media and Communications Manager, Kingsley Ezenwa, Dana Air had to carry out the exercise to demonstrate its  readiness to resume flights as soon as the airspace is opened. ”Although all through the lockdown, we had our engineers on ground to…

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said it has complied with the directive of the Federal Government to relocate its Corporate Headquarters to the nation’s Federal Capital, Abuja. Spokesman for the agency, Sam Adurogboye in a statement said it was the first to do so as a way of encouraging other agencies to do so. It would be recalled that the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika had in a memo dated May 4th,…

   Executive Jets Services saga of flying Naira Marley has exposed how airlines, especially private jet operators, cut corners, ineffectiveness of the system amid COVID-19. WOLE SHADARE writes   Abuse of ministerial approvals The controversy that trailed the movement  of lewd musician, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, his  lascivious behavior and action of Chairman of Executive Jets Services, Dr. Sam Iwuajoku, have again brought to the fore the abuse of approvals given by the Minister of Aviation…

The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) has singled out the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for recognition in the industry’s fight against the spread of coronavirus pandemic. A letter sent to the Director General by the Regional aviation regulatory body states that NCAA is the only State Civil Aviation Regulator recognized for its significant contribution to the African Union Commission High Level Task Force on COVID-19. AFCAC Secretary General  Tefera Mekonen on behalf of the…

  ****Authority’s revenue dwindled by 90% ***IATA offers training free support to FAAN   The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu said the restart report for airlines and aviation industry will be submitted to the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 by Wednesday.  Nuhu appealed to stakeholders especially the airlines saying that the sector is pretty close to a restart with plans to announcing a new date for resumption tomorrow. His words,…

  **Announces return to 17 destinations   Mega carrier, Virgin Atlantic has concluded plans to resume flight services to Lagos from August 24, 2020. This is coming as many countries across the globe are easing restrictions on air travel. The airline which plans to resume flight services to Lagos in August said it would deploy its newly acquired A350 plane on the Nigerian route it shares with British Airways on 21 weekly frequencies to Lagos…