FEATURES

Nigerian airspace has improved tremendously over the years. The country still needs huge and right investment in further securing its airspace not only for the travelling public but for the security of the nation against terrorists. WOLE SHADARE writes that primary radar acquisition may perhaps provide the answers to the security hiccups and by extension keep travelers safer Non-discrimination The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has come of age and has lived up to the objective of…

  The appraisal of the aviation industry in the first quarter of 2023 and by extension the evaluation of the tenure of the current administration is one that elicits cautious excitement. By and large, it is one that came with so much promise and one that lived up to its billing amid several challenges that the sector still faces, writes, WOLE SHADARE The current administration has a few weeks before it winds down. It is proper…

Discussion of the looming pilot crisis is not new, but we are beginning to see just how damaging it will be for all sectors of aviation around the globe. Higher standards pit private and business aviation against commercial airlines, all competing for a dwindling pool of qualified pilots, writes, WOLE SHADARE Danger foretold The pilot shortage has its roots long before COVID-19. Industry leaders saw it coming more than three years ago — before the pandemic…

Africa being among the fastest growing aviation markets, with the sector expected to be valued at $400 billion by 2040 and annual increases in passenger traffic of 5.4 percent, the region is up for grab by ‘marauding’ airlines from Europe, the United States, and Asia, among others. WOLE SHADARE writes Unprecedented growth With Africa’s population set to hit two billion by 2050, the region’s aviation industry is poised for unprecedented growth. This is creating opportunities for…

Nigerians are at the mercy of foreign carriers with exploitative fares that have remained for too long. The route is said to produce a high yield. Government is helpless, the country lacks strong indigenous carriers to compete with their foreign counterparts, writes WOLE SHADARE Ignoring the warning The International Air Transport Association (IATA) had warned of an impending hike in airfare in countries where airlines’ funds are trapped. IATA’s Vice-President for Africa and Middle-East, Kamil…

With work yet to be fully completed, the Ogun agro cargo airport recorded its first test flights last week Thursday to the joy of many. Not a few believe that with the airport expected to commence cargo and passenger operations this year, it would act as a catalyst for economic growth, writes, WOLE SHADARE So long, so good For more than 16 years, it looked like a dream that could only materialize on paper. The hiccup…

Narrow-body aircraft like Embraer 195-E2, Embraer 147, ATR aircraft series, and Bombardier Q400 among other smaller aircraft sizes are set to spearhead Nigeria’s airline industry’s recovery over the next decade as airlines adjust their fleets and operating models for a squeezed travel market, writes, WOLE SHADARE Paradigm shift Many Nigerian airline operators are seeing the sense or gains of operating narrow-body aircraft. There is a paradigm shift in the way established Nigerian airlines are thinking just…

Airlines are oblivious to the challenges they may face when they foray into the sector. While some made provisions to face the challenges others take the wrong steps from the first day. Some of the carriers have enough strength to take care of all of the weaknesses. In fact, the strength is big enough to turn these weaknesses into advantages and opportunities, writes WOLE SHADARE Most preferred mode of transportation With the invention of aircraft…

Borrowing from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) the No Country Left Behind (NCLB) initiative, Nigeria has joined the satellite navigation concept which is relatively new in Africa. WOLE SHADARE who was at the test-run and implementation of the Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) writes on its cost-effectiveness to airlines and other users Migration Over time, navigation has always relied on ground-based aids. But with the advent of satellite navigation adopted by ICAO (GNSS), the scenario…

Over the last decades, the airline industry has changed to a more competitive market as an effect of the deregulation in Nigeria. In other climes, alliances have emerged and grown and created deeper incitement for cooperative behaviour between airlines. Whereas in Nigeria, the country’s airlines are yet to tap into this big market opportunity, writes WOLE SHADARE Competitive industry The airline industry is one of the most competitive industries in the entire world. A large…