Business

The Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has offered to evacuate the immediate families of the airline’s Ukrainian staff to Nigeria consequent upon the invasion of the country by Russia. Onyema, who disclosed this on Thursday, commiserates with the Ukrainians and expressed hope that the situation comes to an end. He stated: “You are all aware that your employer, Air Peace, has been directed by the Federal Government of Nigeria to evacuate Nigerians who have…

The Federal Government is pursuing ahead with the setting up of a national carrier, Nigeria Air as the government will next week open bids for the carrier. Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika gave the hint in Abuja on Thursday, adding that the Federal Government would issue Requests-for-Proposal for the establishment of Nigeria Air next week.  A request for proposal is the process of requesting the bids to evaluate the feasibility, financial health, and bidders’ abilities…

  IATA urges continent to implement ICAO SARPs  Crashed airlines not on IOSA registry   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today released 2021 safety performance data for the commercial airline industry showing strong improvement in several areas compared to both 2020 and to the five years 2017-2021. According to the report, there is a reduction in the total number of accidents, the all-accident rate, and fatalities. At year-end 2021, some 28 African countries (61%…

One of the biggest airlines in Africa, Kenya Airways, has saved $45 million ((Sh4.7 billion) after it changed the lease terms on its aircraft fleet, opting for hourly rates in place of fixed costs. Kenya Airways Chief Executive, Allan Kilavuka, said the airline reached a deal with lessors in 2021 to only pay when they fly leased aircraft. The deal saved the airline billions, switching from paying for idle aircraft during the year affected by…

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) on Thursday released four final accident and serious incident reports and one safety bulletin to the public. The reports are those involving Quorum Aviation Limited’s Bell 206B3 Helicopter with registration 5N-BQW which occurred at Opebi, Lagos State on 28th August 2020, the accident involving Skypower Express Airways Nigeria Limited Air Tractor AT-401B Aircraft with registration 5N-BTV which occurred at Rukubi Village 90 NM South-East of Abuja on the 4th October…

United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited, operator of United Nigeria, says it is set to sign a business partnership deal with Air Peace. The Chairman, Chief Obiora Okonkwo, said this at a dinner to mark the first year anniversary of the company.   The firm obtained its AOC (Air Operating Certificate) on February 12, 2021, and has since then been flying to various cities in Nigeria. Okonkwo said aviation stakeholders have realised the huge potential in…

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), the umbrella body for airlines in Nigeria have expressed dismay statements credited to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Smart Adeyemi over reasons for incessant delays currently experienced by travellers in the country. During a joint oversight visit by the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in Lagos recently, the Senator said that domestic airlines delay passengers for 4…

France, agency ink deal to help Francophone African nations     In a bid to curb capital flight occasioned by the training of its technical workers, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) is constructing a training school in Abuja where its investigators and foreigners would be trained. Commissioner/CEO AIB, Akin Olateru is however worried about the situation that costs the agency $1 million (N550 million) every year to train its technical personnel in reputation training institutions…

The National Assembly has advised against the planned demolition of private hangars obstructing some of the boarding fingers at the new terminal of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, (MMIA) Lagos. Meanwhile, the National Assembly has asked the Managing Director of  Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt. Rabiu Yadudu to submit the cost of demolition and compensation due to the owners of the hangars to the two committees for consideration before going ahead to demolish…

The Civil Aviation Act 2006 established the Accident Investigation Bureau as an autonomous agency that reports to the President of the Federation through the Minister of Aviation. The agency had at inception remained almost unknown not just because of a lack of ideas to drive it but the political will to make it rank amongst its peers around the world. The appointment of Commissioner/CEO of the agency, Akin Olateru, an aircraft engineer in 2017 opened…