Aviation

   Airlink, the South African-based domestic and regional airline, is suspending all operations after midnight this Thursday, 26 March 2020 in support of South Africa’s lock-down to slow and contain the spread of the COVID-19 “Coronavirus”. “In the face of this global public health emergency, the safety and well-being of our customers, crew, employees their families and communities is our priority.  It is our responsibility and civic duty to support and comply with the new…

An Ethiopian Airlines Freighter landed today at Lagos Airport International Airport  to deliver Medical Supplies From the Jack Ma Foundation. The airline landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 3.30pm. The airline said it was pleased to deliver these much needed critical medical supplies and equipment which help in the global fight against the COVID-19. “We appreciate the donation of the Jack Ma Foundation and the generosity of Mr. Jack Ma. We admire our…

  By Alexandre de Juniac Someone once said that history doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes. Today, as all the world’s airlines face a cataclysm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, memories of the post-9.11 period come to mind. But this crisis is far worse. Within a period of a few weeks, airlines have seen passenger demand completely collapse. For most carriers the market for air travel is actually below zero—the number of people cancelling flights exceeds…

  Domestic airline operations not affected  Essential, emergency operations exempted Airlines to submit manifest to port authorities Scores to be stranded abroad The Federal Government has directed the closure of Nigeria biggest airports, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja . A statement from the Director-General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt Musa Nuhu stated that effective Monday, March 23, 2020 to 23rd of April 2020, the two aerodromes…

  Foreign airlines suspend flights Lufthansa stops flight to Lagos from March 23rd Air France, KLM cut schedules Rwandair suspends flights to Lagos for 30 days BA in tactical flight cancellations The score of passengers inside the expansive the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos is unprecedented. Thousands of travelers besieged the facility as they tried to catch the last flights out of Lagos to 13 destinations listed in the Federal Government’s travel restriction before the…

  Loses over N180 billion in revenue, to downsize operations 100,000 jobs at risk As the travel industry continues to groan over the weight of Coronavirus (Covid – 19), with airlines losing over $200 billion in revenue and still, the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), has called on the Federal Government to provide bailout for travel agencies to guard against default and the attendant socio  – economic impact arising for shutting down businesses….

  FG to pay 50% balance Nigeria Airways ex-workers from West Coast are still in pain over failure by the Federal Government to involve them in severance benefits handed to their Nigerian counterparts last year. While Nigeria Airways ex-workers got 50 per cent of their severance package 17 years after the national airline was liquidated, ex-workers in West Coast comprising Gabon, Cameroon and Benin Republic are yet to be paid by the Federal Government. Representative…

  Suspends inspections, exchanfe programmes, others     In a bid to protect its workforce from COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued guidelines to its workers.   The agency in its detailed guidelines for officers of the authority asked those who recently travelled abroad to self-isolate for 14 days among sundry other measures upon their return to Nigeria.   The aviation regulatory body has compiled details of all NCAA staff already…

  S’ Africa tops region’s list The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has given country specific analysis of the impact of COVID-19 to Africa’s aviation industry. Out of the five major economies in the continent comprising South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Rwanda, the disruptions from COVID-19 could result in 853,000 loss in passenger volumes and $170 million loss in base revenues in Nigeria. IATA, the clearing house for over 280 global airlines stated that the…

  Millions of jobs at risk Current industry crisis worse than SARS, 9/11 to global economy Travel demand down by 60% in Africa, Middle East Wole Shadare In a bid to ensure airlines do not go bankrupt and out of the skies, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has appealed  to governments in Africa and the Middle East to provide emergency support to airlines as they fight for survival due to the evaporation of air travel…