Aviation

      As air traffic picks up, Air France is gradually reinforcing its flight schedule for summer 2020.   By the end of June, the flight schedule will represent 20 per cent of the capacity usually deployed over this period.   Subject to the lifting of travel restrictions, the gradual increase in the number of frequencies and destinations will continue, reaching 35 per cent of the flight schedule initially planned in July and 40…

  ACI EUROPE (Airports Council International), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airlines for Europe (A4E), representing Europe’s airports and airlines, today welcomed and amplified the European Commission’s call for the complete lifting on  June 15 of remaining intra-EU travel restrictions (including quarantines), as well as its proposed approach for starting to phase out restrictions for travel from/to other countries as of 1 July. The three aviation associations urged all EU and associated States to…

Following the erosion of revenue by virtually all the aviation agencies occasioned by the closure of the airspace, the House of Representatives has called for urgent release of bailout to rescue the agencies and to save jobs. Chairman House Representatives Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji appealed to the Federal Government to quickly release the intervention fund it pledged for the aviation agencies to ensure a smooth gradual restoration of air transport services as announced by…

  ***Resumes aircraft type production in May Aircraft giant, Boeing has made plans to carry out a crucial 737 Max recertification flight by the end of June, 2020 according to reports. Unnamed sources familiar with the matter have told CNBC that Boeing has created a flight plan designed to demonstrate the 737 Max’s updated flight control software, which has been the subject of debate since two Max’s crashed over a year ago. Boeing resumed production of…

CAPA-Centre for Aviation,  a leading provider of independent aviation market intelligence, has launched a series of interactive data models designed to build and interpret projections of airline capacity in key markets. The CAPA Airline Capacity Models an effective breakdown of each nation’s domestic and international outlook for seat capacity supported by OAG – as well as each city and route pair – based on the 2019 actuals. Combined with government statements, airline network announcements and capacity projections…

    Africa’s airlines have been pushed to the precipice; no thanks to COVID-19. Many of them have been piling on debts long before the pandemic. Governments’ bailouts have been the oxygen sustaining them. WOLE SHADARE focuses on financial wisdom in sustaining them amid tiny market share   Tiny market share Questions are swirling in Africa and elsewhere over the financial wisdom of sustaining prestige carriers that often have a tiny share of aviation market that sees no…

Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury has indicated that the European planemaker could sue airline customers for breaking contracts and refusing to accept aircraft deliveries. In an interview with Politico, Mr Faury said that lawsuits “will happen” if airlines are fully defaulting and “not proposing something better than nothing, or are not willing to do it”. Airlines have been slammed by the coronavirus crisis and many are requesting deferrals on deliveries from manufacturers and lessors. A number…

***Calls for collaboration, Fadugba laments lopsided BASA ***Foster faults multiple taxations  Former Secretary General of African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), Ms. Iyabo Sosina has advocated for a policy that could see airlines in Nigeria reduced to not more than four in Nigeria with maximum of between ten and 20 aircraft. This is coming amid call by Nigeria’s respected international aviation consultant and Chairman, African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA), Mr. Nick Fadugba called for an immediate review…

   A “new baby” was born with the revival of Uganda Airlines, the country’s president announced last year. But now its four new jets sit idle, business suspended indefinitely because of coronavirus-related travel restrictions. Questions are swirling in Africa and elsewhere over the financial wisdom of sustaining prestige carriers that often have a tiny share of aviation market that sees no recovery in sight, according to The Associated Press. African airlines had been piling on debt long before the…