FEATURES

Many airlines see de-cartelisation as the shortest path to ruin. But recent experience has shown how hollow the opposition to air competition really is, writes WOLE SHADARE   Unconvincing The past weeks have seen airline operators try to make passengers believe that the N50,000 base fare for a one-hour trip was arrived at by them independently without colluding to fix fares. They denied ever holding a meeting to determine what airfare should be Not many…

Nigeria boasts of a population many say is almost 200 million. This, however, does not translate to huge traffic due more to the prevailing economic situation. WOLE SHADARE writes Paradox Despite a significant increase in domestic passenger traffic in 2019 by almost 30 percent, there is still a huge gap in travel demand by Nigerians. This huge gap is further made worse by the recent hike in fares by airlines who themselves are battling to stay…

Flight delay is almost becoming the new order in the Nigerian aviation industry. Everyone is worried and hurriedly looking for a solution. Apart from the fact that passengers have their aircraft travel rights, the reputation of airlines is at stake, writes, WOLE SHADARE Widespread phenomenon With the total number of global air travelers growing tenfold from 1970 to 2019, air traffic systems worldwide have become increasingly complicated and in many situations congested, causing negative consequences to…

Leasing is an efficient means to fulfill short-term capacity requirements without burning the balance sheet. This, however, comes with a lot of risks for the airline and lessor, writes WOLE SHADARE Fairy tale It sounds like a fairy tale, but it is not. It is far from it. A few months ago, Arik Air’s passengers had filed out to board one of Arik’s leased aircraft from Lagos to Abuja. Some wondered why Arik was flying…

Aviation capacity is needed urgently if the industry is to cater to increased demand, writes WOLE SHADARE   With more people flying more than ever, cities around the world are building new airports and upgrading old terminals to create facilities capable of handling tens of millions of passengers. The results are modern, stylish architectural statements that banish the dark, crowded travel spaces of the past. Political will Politicians tend to view aviation as a political…

Two years into the crisis, a crucial moment has passed for many: boarding the first plane in a post-pandemic world. After reuniting with family, friends, colleagues, and clients the passion for flight is reignited. As the cycle turns, opportunities in aviation are ripe for the bold. Expect air travel to rise again in 2022, writes WOLE SHADARE Way out Despite its sharpness, the recession of 2020 was one of the shortest on record as economies…

It is familiar terrain. It remains to be seen how the domestic carriers survive the onslaught of multiple destinations/designation to foreign airlines and what remains for them with the policy, writes, WOLE SHADARE Backward steps  “It is a case of step forward and many steps backward. We make gains in one area but fail to consolidate on the gains we have made. We would rather throw away those gains willingly without consideration of how those decisions…

The number is rising. Africa is becoming home to A220 operators as more carriers on the continent are acquiring the aircraft type, writes WOLE SHADARE Growing presence The number of airlines that have embraced Airbus A220 in Africa is growing. On December 28, Air Senegal became the fourth operator of the type in the continent after taking delivery of its first of eight A220-300s it has on order. The aircraft got a special welcome with…

The year 2021 was not particularly bad for the aviation sector in Nigeria despite the ravaging COVID-19. If anything, it was a year the country’s aviation showed promise. Despite that, there were bad and ugly scenes that dotted the sector, reports WOLE SHADARE Undermining factors The aviation industry crises in Nigeria and around the world have become a study of the forces that are undermining it. No thanks to an almost complete shutdown of both…

  For two weeks, many parts of the continent reeled under the Omicron virus ban. The continent’s air travel is counting its losses, one that further slows down travel recovery, writes WOLE SHADARE The removal of 11 African countries from the United Kingdom’s Red List is resulting in a return of air travel by many Africans, particularly from Nigeria and Southern Africa. UK carriers, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, have reestablished services and are seeing…