Aviation

  *Jed Air, Dana, Azman, First Nation, Top Brass, Quorum, others submit list *Megisson laments COVID-19 impact on carriers Amid harsh economic realities occasioned by the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, eighteen Nigerian airlines have submitted their Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) funds application documents to their umbrella body, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON). Some of the airlines have not operated for more than two years and call to question the reason for government’s assistance to them….

Airbus delivered just under 200 aircraft during the first six months of the year, roughly half of the amount the manufacturer achieved over the same period in 2019. That is according to the European air framer’s monthly update, which showed that Airbus handed over 36 commercial aircraft in June. Last month’s number is a slight increase compared to 24 aircraft delivered in May and 14 in April, bringing the total for the first half of…

   Passengers are being put off from flying over specific concerns including being in busy airports and sitting next to someone on a plane who might be infected by Covid-19. That is according to new research from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), showing the factors preventing people from booking air tickets. In a survey conducted across 11 countries, passengers identified three major concerns at the airport and on-board aircraft, relating to Covid-19. Nearly 60%…

  No fewer than 162 Nigerians stranded in India have been evacuated, it was learnt. The evacuees are the third batch to have been evacuated from India. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama disclosed this in a tweet on Wednesday.   Over 4,000 Nigerians were stranded across the globe due to the global lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Government has set ending of July to complete evacuation of its nationals stranded…

  ***Stimulus package will revive sector-Aero MD ***Travel to pick up in Q4-Ojuri The aviation industry in Nigeria holds some hope of return to stability and capacity to bounce back quickly than expected as airlines began flight services, more than three months after the airspace was closed by the Federal Government due to the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the resilience, apathy trailed the sector as few passengers turned up for the few flights that…

  The Federal Airports Authority (FAAN), has commended passengers for complying with the COVID-19 protocols put in place at the airports. Domestic flights resumed on Wednesday in Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja after over three months of airport closure over the COVID-19 pandemic. The authority explained it thought the compliance level by passengers would be poor being the first time of operating after months of closure. Some…

  **Shareholders back €9bn government bailout Germany’s Lufthansa will reduce the number of executive positions at the company by 20% and cut 1,000 administrative jobs, according to its latest restructuring measures.  The airline group has also halved its investment budget for new aircraft so that it can now accept a maximum of 80 new aircraft by 2023. Lufthansa has already retired 22 aircraft including six Airbus A380s, eleven Airbus A320s and five Boeing 747-400s as the…

  Following the recent re-opening of the airports by the Federal Government, Dana Air has announced the resumption of its flight services on July 9 2020 The airline will operate three daily flights from Lagos to Abuja and back while the date for the addition of Port Harcourt and Owerri will be announced later. The Chief Operating Officer of Dana Air Obi Mbanuzuo, while speaking on the preparedness of the airlines said, ” Dana Air is…

  *Half the normal pre-outbreak number expected *FAAN warns passengers of delay at airports Nigeria will today open its airports, particularly the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and the  Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to travellers as part of the first phase of ease on domestic travel. It is the latest in the nation’s efforts to revive an economy slammed by the coronavirus pandemic. Other airports like the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Port-Harcourt International…

   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released public opinion research showing the willingness to travel being tempered by concerns over the risks of catching COVID-19 during air travel. The industry’s re-start plans address passenger’s main concerns. Concerns for Travel During COVID-19 Travelers are taking precautions to protect themselves from COVID-19 with 77% saying that they are washing their hands more frequently, 71% avoiding large meetings and 67% having worn a facemask in public. Some…