Author: Wole Shadare

  Passengers to undergo COVID-19 test in Dubai and on arrival in Lagos Stranded Nigerians desirous of returning home would be airlifted by Emirates Airlines to the country tentatively on April 26, 2020 according to Nigeria’s Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In a letter dated April 17, titled, “COVID-19 Travel Adisory-Update” signed by the Consular and Immigration Section of the Embassy informed  members of the Nigerian community  in the United Arab Emirates requiring emergency evacuation…

  Issues fresh guidelines to airlines on COVID-19 Seeks long layover stoppage to avoid contamination   The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued fresh guidelines to airline crew saddled with the responsibility of using their aircraft to ferry medical equipment particularly from China and high risk countries. The aviation regulatory body in its guidelines, titled, “NCAA COVID-19 Guidelines on the Management of Crew Members”, signed by the Director-General of the agency, Capt. Musa Nuhu,…

  First quarter of the year already showed how the year will end.  The signs are not so good for airlines, aviation and others associated with the sector, WOLE Shadare writes Difficult year It has been a very terrible first quarter of 2020 for the aviation industry in Nigeria. The year started with so much promise in what is most likely to be the most difficult year for airlines and the sector generally. Demand for air travel was…

America providing $274M for countries to combat COVID-19 The U.S. Mission in Nigeria said it has helped 997 Americans return home to reunite with family and friends during this time of unprecedented challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mission disclosed that from April 6-8, three U.S. Consulate-organized chartered flights operated by Delta Air Lines and Ethiopian Airlines repatriated 850 American citizens from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos to the United States. This is…

  *Seek urgent release of arrested workers Air traffic controllers under the aegis of Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) and Flight Crew Association of Nigeria (FCAN) have denounced the recent arrest by the Rivers State Government of two pilots in the course of discharging their duties. They warned that a coalition of FCAN, NAAPE and NATCA are willing to stop all civil flights into and originating from Rivers State at short notice and up…

Give 24 hour ultimate to Wike Airline operators under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have threatened to  boycott all schedule and unscheduled commercial and private flight operations, including oil and gas offshore flight services, into Port Harcourt for a period of three months if two pilots of Caverton Helicopters that were recently arrested and taken into custody in handcuffs by the Rivers State Government for allegedly flouting the COVID19 Lockdown Order in the State…

  Vow to set them free, ART kick Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika has vowed that the Federal Government would get the two pilots of Caverton Helicopters arrested by Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesome Wike released as soon as possible. This is coming as he described the action of Rivers State Governor, and the Police that effected the arrest of the duo as ‘dangerous ignorance’ that has no place in the regulation of civil aviation. Two…

  FG set to intervene, pilot body slams Gov. Caverton’s plea rebuffed There are indications that the Federal Government has opened discussions with the Rivers State Government with the possibility of releasing the two Caverton Helicopter pilots who are currently languishing in jail. It is not clear as at press time if the River State Government would accede to out of court settlement with the pilots. A source told Woleshadarenews that the Ministry of Aviation has reached…