FEATURES

In a region where affordable airfares have remained elusive, many potential customers have long been deprived of the opportunity to travel by air. Presently, a one-way ticket from Lagos to Abuja could go for as high as N100,000 or more – which is way too expensive for the average Nigerian, writes WOLE SHADARE Skyrocketing fares Airfares are becoming more expensive on domestic routes. Many factors have been attributed to the adjustments in fares. These factors have…

Jet fuel contamination has led to many unfortunate incidents in the past in many parts of the world including Nigeria. WOLE SHADARE writes that fuel contamination has become a recurring incident in the Nigerian aviation industry Troubling times Several troubling incidents of jet fuel contamination have prompted the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other industry groups to pay close attention to the danger posed by bad jet fuel. It’s no secret that jet fuel contamination can…

Flying within Africa is more expensive than just about anywhere else in the world. Travellers pay higher ticket prices and more taxes. It is often cheaper to fly to another continent than to another African country according to the BBC in its report. For a quick comparison, flying from the German capital, Berlin, to Turkey’s biggest city, Istanbul, will probably set you back around $150 (£120) for a direct flight taking less than three hours….

Flight delays are not synonymous with the Nigerian aviation industry. It is fast assuming a very dangerous dimension here in Nigeria, writes, WOLE SHADARE Escalating trend Flight delays and cancellations are continuing to surge in Nigeria. The recent from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the first quarter of 2023 clearly shows that. It is becoming a herculean task to see a flight that is not delayed. Even airlines that pride themselves or use the…

One issue that has dominated national discourse in the past month is Nigeria Air and whether or not Nigeria needs a national airline; the debate that reverberates, write, WOLE SHADARE The big debate The debate for a national carrier for Nigeria will never go away depending on the side or position one takes.  It is a position of naysayers and optimists. It is the most contentious debate that no one will ever win until the Federal…

The crises rocking Arik Air are multi-dimensional and lack a solution. WOLE SHADARE chronicles the problems of the carrier and the futile attempts by its founder, Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide to reclaim his airline A model at inception The crisis rocking the erstwhile biggest airline in West and Central Africa, Arik Air, took another turn this penultimate week following the sale of one of its assets – a CRJ 1000 aircraft with registration number 5N-JEE. Arik at its inception…

Gender diversity continues to be a hot topic and in the aviation industry, it’s a big problem.  According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) which represents 290 airlines, the proportion of women holding C-level roles in the industry is just 3%, writes, WOLE SHADARE Poor numbers Statistics show that only about 13% of jobs in aviation are held by women. Today, the aviation industry is grappling with methods to improve inclusion and diversity. For some…

The airline industry has made huge strides in terms of fuel efficiency. One reason is to reduce costs—fuel is expensive—but sustainability is a factor as well, as concern grows about the industry’s environmental performance, writes, WOLE SHADARE An important landmark was achieved in the early 1970s with the introduction of second-generation jet planes (B747 and DC10) that included engine efficiency improvements as well as the economies of scale benefits of high capacities, in the range of…

  A new administration is in place which beckons fresh hope for the aviation industry. The sector has not failed despite some challenges. The new administration can build on the template of the past administration while reviewing some decisions of fine-tuning or discarding some that are not people-friendly. The new team is equally expected to look at issues bedeviling the nation’s carriers, and importantly, the place of Nigeria Air, writes, WOLE SHADARE New sheriff in town…

When a Nigerian airline thinks it has matured it heads to Accra. When they lose out on the route they eventually collapse. Only a few airlines that lost on the route eventually survived. It’s usually a sign of tough times for the airlines, writes, WOLE SHADARE The big question The question on the lips of many aviation enthusiasts and stakeholders is what makes Accra attractive for Nigerian airlines? Nobody has readily come forward to offer an…