Author: Wole Shadare

Over 50 African countries continue to dabble in the airline industry despite the continent’s poor track record, mainly because a national carrier is believed to be a source of patriotic pride and economic status – both of which are seldom borne out in reality. WOLE SHADARE writes Sing song The sing song in Africa for now is national carrier. Governments may need to ask if there’s still value to having a national carrier other than patriotism or…

Mull next partners with domestic carriers Dana Air today made good its promise as the carrier introduced a Boeing 738-700 airplane to its fleet. The carrier is gradually phasing out its MD-83 airplanes which had served it very well in the last ten years. The introduction of the aircraft to its fleet would assist it to operate flights between Lagos and Abuja is part of partnership between it and ASKY. Speaking to journalists shortly before…

Airlines to divert flights  If the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) makes good its threat, many aerodromes and airstrips owned by private firms and state governments may come under closure over humongous debts in excess of N4 billion incurred over the years.  Woleshadarenews learnt that most of the aerodromes are hugely indebted to NAMA just as paucity of funds has stretched the finances of the airspace agency as many airlines, airports and airstrips operators have reneged…

Promotional fares on sale British Airways Club World combines premium levels of comfort and service with the freedom and flexibility to make every journey unique and unforgettable. Whether you are travelling for business or pleasure, there’s a Club World seat with your name on it. British Airways has invested millions in giving customers an even better experience in recent years, and Club World passengers can now turn their flight time into me time as they…

Emirates Airlines dwarfs Ethiopian, Kenya, SAA The extension of gesture by government to bail out Nigerian airlines, which are in distress, is more of sentiment than strategic economic sense, an expert has said. Global aviation Consultant and Chairman, African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA), Nick Fadugba, said this while presenting a paper titled “Partnerships – Key to Survival of Domestic Airlines,” in Lagos. Noting that over N400 billion intervention fund given to airlines some years back…

Cargo up 9.9% The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA), which has released its 2017 World Air Transport Statistics.  They indicate annual airline passenger numbers exceeded four billion for the first time. This information is included in the recently released 62nd Edition of the World Air Transport Statistics (WATS), the yearbook of the airline industry’s performance. Over the same period, airlines connected a record number of destinations in 2017, providing regular services to over 20,000 city…

  A member of aviation industry think tank group, Aviation Round Table (ART) and Chief Executive, Centurion Securities, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), has warned that the threats by unions in the aviation industry to disrupt the activities of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) over their demand that some workers disengaged by the firm must be recalled remained the greatest threats to the country’s aviation sector….

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Tuesday said it would deliver the Air Transport Licence (ATL) and the Aircraft Operators Certificate (AOC) to the new national carrier, Nigeria Air, in the next 90 days. The Director-General, NCAA, Capt. Muktar Usman, who disclosed to journalists said the proposed December take-off of the carrier was still feasible. The Airline Transport Licence (ATL) is the highest level of aircraft pilot certificate. Those certified as Airline Transport Pilots…

Want Nigeria to adopt Singapore, Dubai models The only way to rescue Nigeria’s aviation industry is to adopt the Dubai and Singapore aviation models by harnessing aviation as a tool for economic development, experts have said. For instance, Managing Director of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema and former Commandant, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Group Captain John Ojikutu (Rtd), told Woleshadare.net  at separate fora that the two nations have built their aviation to a level that…