‘Open Skies’ albatross for Nigerian carriers

‘Open Skies’ albatross for Nigerian carriers

  Despite a five-year head start, US carriers trump Nigerian carriers in the unrestricted capacity and frequency of service, writes, WOLE SHADARE Solidifying ‘Open Skies’ The US-Nigeria ‘Open Skies’, agreement which has been provisionally applied since 2000 entered into force on May 13, 2024. The agreement includes provisions that allow for unrestricted capacity and frequency of services, open route rights, a liberal charter regime, and open code-sharing opportunities between the two countries.   “This bilateral agreement establishes…

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Exploring the economics of private jet charter business

Exploring the economics of private jet charter business

Private jet demand is booming as charter rather than ownership is becoming a cost-cutting measure for the wealthy and busy CEOs, writes, WOLE SHADARE Hard times The reality of the harsh global economy is making the ownership of private jets no longer something multi-billionaires now fancy. Even people who are not in the billionaire club but had once desired to own their jets as a result of the enormous financial resources they are surrounded with no…

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MRO: Assessing African airlines’ maintenance paradox

MRO: Assessing African airlines’ maintenance paradox

MRO in Africa is locked in a chicken-and-egg paradox. African airlines often lack the scale needed to invest in new MRO capabilities. This means they must look further afield for MRO services, needing substantial time and cost and reducing their ability to grow. WOLE SHADARE who was at the MRO Africa summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia writes on the challenges the continent’s carriers are faced with Potential Africa has the greatest potential for growth in the aviation…

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How Nigeria’s risk rating exposes airlines to expensive wet-lease

How Nigeria’s risk rating exposes airlines to expensive wet-lease

Nigeria is the largest market in Africa. The potential is there. The market is large. The country seems to be getting its act together as it tries to exit aircraft lessors’ ‘blacklist,’ writes WOLE SHADARE High risk The consensus is that aircraft lessors and financiers are still reluctant to lease or finance aircraft to African operators, which are considered high risk relative to other placement opportunities. The reason is that prospecting in the African continent…

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Price war: Savouring int’l route amid frustrating domestic fare conspiracy

Price war: Savouring int’l route amid frustrating domestic fare conspiracy

In the battle to capture the customer, companies use a wide range of tactics to ward off competitors. Increasingly, price is the weapon of choice—and frequently the skirmishing degenerates into a price war. WOLE SHADARE writes that while travellers are excited about the London price war, the domestic sector is allegedly witnessing price collusion Price appeal Creating low-price appeal is often the goal, but the result of one retaliatory price slashing after another is often a…

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Q1 REVIEW: Cautious optimism towards robust growth

Q1 REVIEW: Cautious optimism towards robust growth

The aviation industry in the first quarter of 2024 can be described as mixed. The sector in Nigeria is grappling with so many challenges but there is hope that the managers of the sector are poised to tackle the myriad of issues confronting it, writes, WOLE SHADARE Age long decay Many of the country’s aviation woes have been there for decades with various governments that came after doing their best but how best had their best…

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Seeking solution to dearth of skilled manpower, ageing workforce

Seeking solution to dearth of skilled manpower, ageing workforce

Manpower development could be ensured via scholarships and sponsorships from organisations and well-meaning individuals, especially to young aviators as this is fundamental to the sustainable development of the sector, writes WOLE SHADARE Survey outcome Fourty-five per cent of industry leaders in a recent survey identified a labour shortage in the maintenance technician field as the most urgent challenge in aerospace and aviation. Global demand for aviation skills is set to overtake supply by 2027 with…

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Assessing Nigerian airports’ security architecture

Assessing Nigerian airports’ security architecture

Since the ICAO security audit helps member states identify critical weaknesses in their aviation security and oversight systems, and also guides them in developing targeted action plans to correct the deficiencies, it is of utmost importance to appraise Nigeria’s recent success at the just concluded test, WOLE SHADARE writes Threat to aviation The threat to civil aviation from acts of unlawful interference is real and constantly evolving. ICAO’s Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP), established in…

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Reduced travels’ economic impact on air transportation

Reduced travels’ economic impact on air transportation

In recent times, the skies above Nigeria seem to be soaring to new altitudes, not just in terms of flights but also in the cost of air travel, writes, WOLE SHADARE Empty terminals  Air travel is one of the barometers to gauge the health of a nation. Whenever a country is doing well, it will reflect on the number of people that travel by air. Nigerian aviation is not a stand-alone. It is part of the…

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Deep reflections on Africa’s troubled airlines

Deep reflections on Africa’s troubled airlines

Africa’s airlines must wake up to the brutal competition outside the continent. That remains their biggest challenge, writes, WOLE SHADARE  Sharp contrast The sheer size of Africa, the distances between cities, and the poor state of road and rail infrastructure should, in theory, make aviation an ideal mode of transport for the movement of goods and people alike. Air transportation, however, has failed to fill this gap and the market remains small by the standard of…

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