Author: Wole Shadare

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency ( NAMA) is set to achieve industrial harmony as its management last week week held an engagement forum with the Joint Aviation Trade Unions.   The unions include National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Association of Air Traffic Controllers (NATCA), National Association of Aeronautical Engineers (NAAE), Aeronatical Information Management Association of Nigeria (AIMA) and National Aeronautical Communication Association of…

Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika has given more details why Lufthansa Consortium’s contract that was expected to mid-wife the birth of a national carrier was terminated, saying the decision was taken in the best interest of the nation. The Minister who spoke today in Lagos alleged that the firm changed the term of the contract it had with government by demanding that aside asking for 75 per cent of N341 million upfront payment…

NCAA begins audit, carriers may recapitalise The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority of Nigeria (NCAA) has commenced the audit of airlines in the country as there are palpable fears that some of them may be found short of passing the stiff regulatory test. The audit became necessary with a view to knowing the financial strength of the carrier and to quickly raise the red flag to their operations wherever they are found wanting. Minister of State…

The cry by domestic airlines that they are not having good returns on their investments may not be totally true as there are indications that between 40 and 60 per cent of ticket fare are hidden as fuel surcharge, Woleshadare.net has learnt. The carriers have permanently loaded their fuel charges so high. Even when fuel sold for $35 per barrel some few months ago for over three years before it went up to $70 just…

  All too often, airlines are held responsible for problems that are befalling them. For sustainable aviation development, it is not a task that they can accomplish alone. WOLE SHADARE writes Scepticism Any time a new airline signifies its intention to begin flight operations, the response of stakeholders is always not a cheery one. The tendency is to see any start up airline as an oddity out of a magician’s hat, a kind of illusion…

   The European Space Agency (ESA) and Airbus have signed a commercial partnership (PPP) agreement for construction, launch and operations of the commercial “Bartolomeo” platform. Airbus’ new external payload hosting facility will be attached to the European Columbus module of the International Space Station (ISS) from mid-2019.   The agreement defines the roles and responsibilities of the two PPP partners, with Airbus investing around €40 million into the development, construction and launch of this innovative…

NCAA begins probe The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has commenced investigation into the ground handling activities of Menzies, a firm which is yet to be licensed. The firm which remains unregistered and which carried out illegal operations at the Lagos airport could see criminal charges pressed against it. Spokesman for NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, confirmed that the ground handling company carried out operations at the airport yesterday, but said the agency had commenced investigation…