Author: Wole Shadare

*Firm ready for regional operations Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2) said it obtained and granted authorisation from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to commence regional operations at MMA2 as set out in the concession agreement between the later and former. The firm equally faulted the claims in some quarters that insufficient space for parking aircrafts was delaying the commencement of international operations at its terminal….

The Federal Government should support domestic carriers and assist them in turning the West African route into a single market as the airlines in the country have the capacity to do so. Nigerian carriers now dominate the West African market, especially with the operation of four carriers-Arik, Aero, Medview and Dana to Accra, Ghana, leading to insinuations that the market is over-saturated. A top official of one of the airlines to Accra who pleaded anonymity…

 Aircraft pilots under the umbrella of National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) have protested the pay disparity by Bristow Helicopters for its pilots and expatriate pilots. The pilots and engineers have however suspended their operations leading to the grounding of the airline.   NAAPE has been in dispute with the management of Bristow Group over the highly vexed issue of pay disparity by which Nigerian pilots and engineers are discriminated against in favour…

Aviation workers under the aegis of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) have concluded arrangement to shut down operations of Caverton Helicopters in Lagos, Warri and Port-Harcourt within the next seven days if salaries of workers are not paid. In a letter written by the Acting Secretary General of NUATE, Olayinka Abioye to the Managing Director/CEO of the airline, dated March 30, 2016, titled, “Final Notice of Industrial Action Against Caverton Helicopters”, the NUATE…

Kenya has scrapped plans to construct a new terminal building at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International airport due to excess capacity caused by recent upgrades to existing facilities, the Airports Authority said on Tuesday. President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the $650 million project in December 2013. China’s Anhui Construction and China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation (Catic) had been selected to build the terminal that was expected to handle 20 million passengers a year, reports Reuters.

  *Job cut imminent *Minister sets up committee Aviation workers under the aegis of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) have petitioned the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika on what they described as imminent crisis in aviation over exorbitant and multiple taxation/fees, arbitrarily imposed on handling companies and airlines by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Equally worried by the situation are the two major handling company, the Nigeria Aviation Handling…