Aviation

South African Airways (SAA), has taken delivery of its first of five new leased A330-300 wide-body jetliners, becoming Airbus’s first Southern African operator of the aircraft type. SAA’s A330-300 in configured in a comfortable two-class cabin layout with 46 seats in Business Class and 203 in Economy class seats.  The aircraft will introduce new levels of onboard comfort, including connectivity for SAA’s passengers and enhanced operating efficiencies for the airline. SAA has selected the latest…

Dana Air has passed  the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA).  The airline was on today admitted by International Air Transport Association (IATA), into its global safety registry; after passing the International Operations Safety Audit (IOSA). According to the Accountable Manager of Dana Air, Mr Obi Mbanuzuo, ‘’our admission into the IOSA registry is a confirmation of our strict adherence to global management and safety standards and procedures, required of global carriers. Getting the IOSA certification is a double…

The management of Bristow Helicopters has described the shutting down of its operations by the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) as illegal, saying the union’s action came when the matter is currently the subject of a mediation led by the Federal Ministry of Labour between NAAPE and Bristow. NAAPE had today called on its members within Bristow to embark on an industrial action at Lagos, Port Harcourt and Eket. The action relates…

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) have shut the operations of Bristow Helicopters in Nigeria. The exercise took place today.     Confirming the situation was the National President of the association, Balami Isaac said, “Their operations are currently grounded and nothing will be happening there today”.     “The issues necessitating the shutting according to the body includes: Victimization of members especially executives, Illegal redundancy, Violation of Conditions of Services by…

*Airline to begin investigation     The lifeless body of a stowaway was yesterday found in the main wheel well of one of Arik Air’s A330-200 aircraft at the Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg. Spokesman for Arik Air, Banji Ola, in a statement said the aircraft operated the scheduled Lagos-Johannesburg flight that departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 3:55pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 and arrived Johannesburg shortly before 11pm.   He disclosed that engineers…

Paucity of funds occasioned by dwindling revenue inflow and scarcity of foreign exchange has forced the management of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to look inward by domesticating some of its training programmes, saving the country over N2 billion yearly in capital flight.   The largest percentage of NCAA’s budget goes on training of its personnel, especially the Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs), most of whom are holders of various Licenses and Ratings subject to…

      Regional Manager West Africa, Emirates Airline, Mr Manoj Nair (Middle), presenting an Air ticket to the President, Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN), Mrs Funmi Ladipo at the Emirates Office; With them is a FADAN ember Mrs Adaku Nwoko

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has condemned alleged $26b massive illegal subsidies to Boeing in the form of wholly non-refundable corporate welfare. This is the single largest state-level instance of corporate welfare in US history. The subsidy package condemned by today’s report is large enough to fund the entire development of the B777X and has already cost Airbus $50 billion in sales. This is only the second time in the WTO’s 20+ year history that a…