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   Want waiver on taxes, levies, others for 180 days     Airline operators under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) said there is need for government to begin to put in place measures that will guarantee the survival of airlines, describing the sector as the main catalyst and a pivot to the quick recovery of the Nigerian economy. While appreciating the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) approval of N1.1Trillion stimulus and the…

  The Federal Government has extended the closure of airports in the country by two weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic. Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this on Monday. TheFederal Government shut all international airports in the country on Monday, March 23 for one month. Subsequently, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had extended the closure to all local airports in the country while announcing 14-day lockdown in Abuja; Lagos and Ogun States on…

    The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have called for support from governments to the aviation industry, to protect jobs and ensure that air services can be maintained. The economic situation facing the aviation industry is severe. Air passenger demand is down 80 per cent. Airlines are facing a liquidity crisis which threatens the viability of 25 million jobs directly and indirectly dependent upon aviation, including jobs…

  In line with the social distancing guideline on Covid-19, Dana Air has announced that it will keep the middle seats on all its aircraft empty upon resumption of flights. The Accountable Manager of Dana Air, Obi Mbanuzuo, said Dana Air will commence this initiative when flights resume, maintain it for a while and listen to the feedback from the airline’s customers. According to him ”Majority of our aircraft are configured with mainly three seats in a row, on either…

  Nears collapse with plan to sack all 4,700 staff South African Airways has concluded plans to lay off its entire 4,700-strong workforce after failing to persuade the government to provide more financial help, a move that threatens to ground the 86-year-old national carrier for good. The state-owned airline has offered severance deals to all staff from the end of this month after administrators concluded that a successful turnaround is now unlikely, according to a proposal to eight…

  Passengers to undergo COVID-19 test in Dubai and on arrival in Lagos Stranded Nigerians desirous of returning home would be airlifted by Emirates Airlines to the country tentatively on April 26, 2020 according to Nigeria’s Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In a letter dated April 17, titled, “COVID-19 Travel Adisory-Update” signed by the Consular and Immigration Section of the Embassy informed  members of the Nigerian community  in the United Arab Emirates requiring emergency evacuation…

  Issues fresh guidelines to airlines on COVID-19 Seeks long layover stoppage to avoid contamination   The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued fresh guidelines to airline crew saddled with the responsibility of using their aircraft to ferry medical equipment particularly from China and high risk countries. The aviation regulatory body in its guidelines, titled, “NCAA COVID-19 Guidelines on the Management of Crew Members”, signed by the Director-General of the agency, Capt. Musa Nuhu,…

  First quarter of the year already showed how the year will end.  The signs are not so good for airlines, aviation and others associated with the sector, WOLE Shadare writes Difficult year It has been a very terrible first quarter of 2020 for the aviation industry in Nigeria. The year started with so much promise in what is most likely to be the most difficult year for airlines and the sector generally. Demand for air travel was…

America providing $274M for countries to combat COVID-19 The U.S. Mission in Nigeria said it has helped 997 Americans return home to reunite with family and friends during this time of unprecedented challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mission disclosed that from April 6-8, three U.S. Consulate-organized chartered flights operated by Delta Air Lines and Ethiopian Airlines repatriated 850 American citizens from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos to the United States. This is…