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*Carriers asked not to pay VAT *Private jet owners exempted   In a bid to ameliorate the challenges faced by Nigerian carriers, the Federal Government has re-affirmed and concluded plans to implement the zero duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) payment on the importation of commercial airplanes and spare parts as a way of alleviating the cost burden and ensuring safe flight operations. The gesture was extended specifically to commercial aircraft operators and not private…

In what appears to be further endorsement of Overland’s 14 year history of outstanding safety performance, the carrier O successfully completed the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and has been listed on the IOSA Registry.   According to IATA, “The IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) program is an internationally recognized and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline,” stating that “in terms of…

*Additional A320neo to boost its capacity At the opening of the Farnborough Air Show, held in the United Kingdom that started today, Air Côte d’Ivoire, Ivory Coast’s national airline based in Abidjan, signed a firm order for the purchase of an additional A320neo to complete its fleet. Air Côte d’Ivoire already distinguished itself in the spring by becoming the first African airline to order the A320neo. This Chairman of the Board, General Abdoulaye Coulibaly, said…

*12 A350-1000s to become a key part of both leisure and mainline fleets UK flag carrier airline, Virgin Atlantic Airways has selected the A350-1000, the largest member of the A350 Family, to become the latest aircraft in its fleet, operating from both London Heathrow and Gatwick airports.  The airline is purchasing eight A350-1000s for deliveries commencing in 2019, and four new aircraft on long term leases from ALC from 2020, including a lease “option” for…

  *Over 500,000 new pilots required   Aircraft maker, Airbus in its Global Market Forecast said that in the next 20 years (2016-2035), passenger traffic will grow at an average 4.5 per cent a year, driving a need for over 33,000 new aircraft above 100 seats (32,425 passenger and 645 freighters greater than 10 tonnes) worth $5.2 trillion. By 2035, the world’s aircraft fleet will have doubled from today’s 19,500 aircraft to almost 40,000. Some…

*Air fares, charges product of deregulated market *Carriers rethink strategy The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said it did not authorise airlines to increase air fares, just as the aviation regulatory body said air fares, add-ons, charges, tariffs and terms and condition of service are fully liberalised.   According to spokesman for NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, air fares and sundry charges have been statutorily deregulated and subjected to market forces. While foreign airlines had raised air…

Two persons were injured today at the General Aviation Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos when a man, identified as an orderly of a Senator wanted to remove the magazine of his gun and there was accidental discharge that left him and a woman injured. The orderly who was to travel on Arik Air and wanted to lodge his gun, which is a standard practice on air travel, but the gun released a…

Fifty five years after direct flights from the United States to Havana, Cuba was embargoed as a result of political instability between US and Cuba, Delta Air Lines has concluded arrangement to resume flight services to Havana.   The carrier said it would service this route from New York-JFK, Atlanta and Miami. The disclosure was made by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). This is coming as the American carrier lauded the DOT for awarding the airline…

All over the world, airports are regarded as economic and social infrastructure and expected to be catalyst for accelerated development of the areas they are sited. But in Nigeria, the reverse is the case. Aerodrome construction, more less, serves as conduit pipe for siphoning money, writes WOLE SHADARE The rate at which states are embarking on airport projects makes one to think that there is more to building airports than meets the eye. In the…