Author: Wole Shadare

 The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged governments to quickly implement the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO’s) global guidelines for restoring air connectivity.  The ICAO Council approved Takeoff: Guidance for Air Travel through the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis (Takeoff). This is an authoritative and comprehensive framework of risk-based temporary measures for air transport operations during the COVID-19 crisis. “The universal implementation of global standards has made aviation safe. A similar approach is critical in this crisis…

  Wants repair of aviation industry The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) sees the resumption of South African domestic passenger air services, albeit on a limited basis, as a positive move, adding that more destinations will be included in a phased in basis for the industry to make a meaningful contribution to the recovery of the country’s economy. Under the country’s State of Disaster COVID-19 Level 3 restrictions, which came into force today, local…

  Plans to resume domestic flights to begin from 21st of June   As the Federal Government begins the second phase of the four weeks easing of the lockdown to open up some economic and social activities, the evacuation of Nigerians abroad has been suspended until a new policy on mandatory supervised isolation of persons arriving the country is completed. Also, prior arrangement of evacuation of Nigerians from outside to the country is suspended until…

The Chairman, House of representatives Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji has called on the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 to consider partial opening of the airports to unlock the economy. This is coming as the Ministry of Aviation and its relevant agencies are planning a gradual return to full flight operations in the country,  Nnaji enjoined the Federal government to ensure that at least one airport is reopened immediately in each of the six geopolitical zones…

Emirates has opened bookings on its website for flights from Dubai, where it is based, to 12 Arab countries from 1 July. Bookings are now available on Emirates’ website for destinations including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. Customers have been warned that any bookings are subject to change. “Currently some of our flights are available for booking starting  July 1; however, the situation still  remains dynamic and these…

Given the industry thin margins, particularly taking cognizance of the scale and size of domestic operations, the corporate income tax regime should be reviewed downwards to 5% for airline companies, but allowing an immediate 24-month tax holiday as a cushion for the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the Value Added Tax (VAT) should be removed from airline ticket sales once and for all. The government in 2006 had accepted the recommendation of the Air…

  The issue of airport unviability speaks to the problem of air connectivity in Nigeria. ICAO defines air connectivity as an indicator of a network’s concentration and its ability to move passengers from their origin to their destination seamlessly. It is key to unlocking a country’s economic growth potential, in part because it enables the country to attract business investments (FDI’s) and human capital. Increased air connectivity also accelerates tourism, which is vital to many…

The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation chaired by Nnolim Nnaji has warned that on no account should a UK based Titan Airways be granted approval to fly into the country for evacuation flight if Nigerian Airline is refused landing rights for similar flight by the  United Kingdom Authorities. The committee arrived at this decision at the end of the investigative hearing Friday on the use of foreign airlines to evacuate stranded Nigerians out of…

   GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION / BAILOUT – STRUCTURE & CONTENT Moreover, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the country’s fiscal deficit. Notably, the 2020 fiscal budget, which already had a huge deficit, assumes a US$57 per barrel, whereas Brent crude, the equivalent of our Bonny Light was selling at US$32.5 per barrel on 11th May 2020. Additionally, the Naira has already surreptitiously suffered 22% devaluation and the Minister of Finance has also announced…