Aviation

*Gulf carriers pay FAAN N320 monthly as charges *Reject payment in dollars      Despite the Internally Generated Revenues (IGRs) and the government intervention funds in the sector, there is a discontent that there have been no appreciable returns in quantity of infrastructure in the aviation sector. Consequently, foreign airline operating to the country have petitioned the Ministry of Transportation over appalling facilities at virtually all the airports across the country. The carriers which spoke…

*Aero, FirstNation Airways not folding up-NCAA The Federal Government is shopping for N2.4 billion as severance benefits of workers of Aero Contractors Airlines that have been asked to go on ‘indefinite’ leave. There are two possibilities here. Paying off the workers suggests that the airline may not come back if the government is already shopping for the amount to pay off the over 1, 200 workers who barricaded the airline’s headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed…

By John Ojikutu The Nigerian civil aviation industry and in particular, the domestic airlines is gradually collapsing like a pack of cards if the sustained media reports about its comatose state have not been controverted by both the operators both public and private, and even the regulator of the industry. It is better to voluntarily collapse them into manageable numbers for effective and efficient operations than to allow them go into extinction particularly, the domestic…

*First Nation airplanes on maintenance check The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has come in defence of airlines, saying they are folding up‎ but “merely suspending their operations temporarily to enable them undertake certain operational overhaul and strengthen their overall operational outlay.” A statement by the Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman explained that Aerocontractors Ltd., at present has only one serviceable aircraft, adding that this in contradiction to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARS)…

*Nigerian airlines insolvent, to cut jobs by 50% *Why we suspend flights-Akinkuotu *Unions accuse past mgt. of graft *600 pilots roam the streets   Signs that virtually all Nigerian airlines are insolvent became visible yesterday as Nigeria’s oldest airline; Aero Contractors suspended all its scheduled operations as the carriers said it is ‘re-positioning to return to profitability’. The implication is that over 1, 200 workers have been thrown into the labour market as the carrier…

  Aero Contractors Airlines has announced that it would suspend its scheduled services from Thursday September 1, 2016. A statement from the Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said the development was part of the strategic business realignment to reposition the airline and return it to the part of profitability.   This business decision, which is a result of the current economic situation in the country, has forced some other airlines to suspend operation or…

Aero, others to cut workforce by 50% Arik, Dana struggle as Caverton records N2bn Q1 loss Unless help comes faster, Nigerian airlines could close shop earlier than expected. While the Federal Government is not mooting the idea of another bailout fund to resuscitate their operations, eight years after over N150 billion was given to them, the airlines’ fleet size is shrinking by the day. Their last ray of hope for bank funding seems to be…

Advocate Mergers To Stay Afloat As the operating environment gets tougher for airlines and businesses, experts have suggested that airlines should pool resources together to form strong airlines group to save them from bankruptcy. President, Aviation Round Table (ART), Mr. Gbenga Olowo, who shared this view, said that the systematic operational merger would be the only way for the airlines to remain in business in a short while from now. “This is the only way…

*Airlines decry recurring problem *FAAN apologises   Nigeria’s busiest airport, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos again witnessed power outage at the aerodrome. The problem caused major disruption of flight services to airlines.   Arik, Air Maroc, Lufthansa, Delta, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Air France, Delta, British Airways, South African Airways among others expressed disappointment over the problem that has lingered for more than four years.   Power outage at the Lagos airport is a recurring…

Airlines have faced worse situations but this time around, they are finding it extremely hard to cope. Consequently, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been asked to economically regulate to prevent corner cutting. WOLE SHADARE reports   Deregulation policy Many years ago, precisely in the 1980s and 1990, the aviation industry in Nigeria was deregulated. This led to the birth of Okada Air and ADC, among others. The two were very prominent because of…