Aviation

Air access is key to growing tourism markets in Africa. A number of African airlines are improving air links within the continent and West African region following a shift from  regional aircraft to smaller aircraft especially Turboprops. This has brought some of the most exciting developments in the realm of intra-African air services. Flying within West Africa and within East Africa had long been costly for airline operators but that is slowly beginning to change as air…

Proposed maintenance facility may save Nigerian airlines over $117Mn yearly   The Federal Government is moving very fast with the establishment of the much awaited national carrier as the government has selected ‘a preferred partner just as it has begun talks with the partner as they are at the final stage of Full Business Scale (FBS). The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika is keeping the preferred bidder close to his chest. While Egypt Air is partnering Ghana…

  Having ‘satisfactorily’ undergone the safety audit and implemented the corrective action plan as recommended by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the regulatory has lifted the suspension of Azman Air. With that, the airline can now return to operation having being suspended by the NCAA over safety related matter. The management of the airline in a statement said the lifting of suspension on the airline was confirmed in a meeting held between the management…

Experts x-ray Nigeria’s aviation challenges   Nigeria is making a break-through in what is expected to be the first interline/codeshare deal between domestic airlines in Nigeria as fast growing Ibom Air has concluded plans to unveil the new partnership with an un-named carrier next month. There are indications that the deal is with Dana Air The idea for domestic airline interline had been on the table for close to 20 years without any appreciable progress….

  Airlines, agency met to avoid travel dislocation IATA writes agency   The ten year agreement that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) penned with Societe International Telecommunication Aeronautiques (SITA) for automation of the international airports in Nigeria would come to an end on May 2, 2021. This could throw international air travel from the four major airports across Nigeria into chaos as the new firm Arlington and by extension, FAAN are said to be struggling…

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has obtained licenses for 24 newly recruited air traffic control officers from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) after successfully undergoing the necessary training and examination on Aerodrome and Approach Control. The new air traffic controllers are currently being posted to strategic aerodromes in the country according to their need. In the same vein the agency has also re-certified a total of 30 air traffic controllers in different categories…

Emirates has enough cash to sit out for the next six to eight months but is not ruling out the need for extra funding if the recovery from the pandemic will take longer. This could be through the UAE government providing more equity or by adding more debt to the balance sheet. “We will discuss this with the government”, Emirates CEO Sir Tim Clark said during an online session of the World Aviation Festival talking…

Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu, has maintained that the decision to ground Azman Airlines after thorough audit that indicted the carrier over safety issues was not personal, but done in the overall interest of the industry. Nuhu, who spoke at the weekend in Lagos, however, disclosed that what happened to the airline was not a punitive measure, but the regulatory body’s responsibility and duty to guide and work with…

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned that the Single European Sky (SES) project to reform Europe’s air traffic management system faces collapse if European states do not support the European Commission’s proposals to reboot the stalled initiative. “The European Commission has been trying to deliver the benefits of SES since the early 2000s. But state inaction has meant that none of its targets have been met. New legislation, as proposed by the Commission,…

Tinker with merger, interline to cut costs, United inks MoU with carriers Why air tickets are on the rise   In a market hugely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic on top of rising ticket prices and increased competition, airlines have been urged to synergise their operations in a bid to cut cost without compromising on passenger experience. The chairman of start-up United Nigeria Airlines, Chief Obiora Okonkwo made the call while asking airlines to merge…