Author: Wole Shadare

*Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo get strike notice The National Governing Council (NGC) of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) has faulted the wave of privatisation, commercialisation and concessioning of public utilities by both the Federal and state governments, saying it is opposed to the idea. The group was speaking in veiled reference to the planned privatisation of four of the nation’s airports by the Federal Government and those…

Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) said it has concluded plans to release the final report of Dana MD83 crash report to the public ‘very soon’. The Bureau explained that efforts at resolving and harmonising the issues raised by the stakeholders’ comments and suggestions have however delayed the release of the report. Issuing an  interim statement on investigations into the crash of Dana Airlines MD83 aircraft with registration 5N-RAM, which occurred at Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos State, Nigeria on 3rd June, 2012, spokesman for the AIB, Tunji Oketunbi…

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has called on the Nigerian Government to as a matter of urgency address the failure to make forex available to domestic airlines in the interest of safety and avoidance of collapse to the air transport system.   President, AON, Captain Noggie Meggison in a statement, said aviation is a pivot of the national economy that not only facilitates the movement of people and goods than any other mode of…

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on European Union and North American governments to resolve a looming crisis for the EU–US/Canada visa waiver program. Today, most EU citizens can visit the US and Canada without having to apply for a visa, with US and Canadian citizens being granted similar visa-free access to EU states. Canada and the US, however, require nationals from some EU states to obtain visas. Canada requires visas for nationals…

  Foreign airlines’ blocked funds in Nigeria rises to $591m, says IATA DG   Wole Shadare, Dublin Foreign airlines’ blocked funds in Nigeria have risen to $591million. This new figure was given today by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) at its on-going 72nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) holding in Dublin, Ireland. The clearing house for over 250 airlines also listed other countries where airlines are having difficulties repatriating their funds. The countries are Venezuela…

 By our correspondent who is in Dublin The outgoing Director-General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Tony Tyler has assured that global airlines would soon return to profitability, adding that airlines are engines of prosperity. He started that they have long struggled to turn a profit and reward investors, adding, “That is beginning to change.” Overall, despite generally adverse economic conditions, it is a good time for the air transport industry. In…

*LATAM, Lufthansa latest carriers to pull out of Caracas By our correspondent in Dublin LATAM Airline Group  and Lufthansa have become the latest carriers to scrap flights to Venezuela amid the continued challnges of repatriating revenues earned in the country. LATAM Airlines Brazil affiliate has withdrawn flights between Caracas and Sao Paulo and at the end of July, LATAM will pull service between Lima and Caraca and service on its Santiago-Guayaquil-Caracas route. The airline cites…

Poor service delivery despite huge taxes accruing from levies may have forced the Federal Government to privatise four of the big airports in Nigeria. Experts have, however, warned of pitfalls if the process is not well managed, writes WOLE SHADARE   The plot The disclosure by the Federal Government to privatise some of the country’s aerodromes could have been helped by its disappointment over growing concern of the state of Nigerian airports and the need…