Skies Archives - Aviation metric

The Banking Problem in African Skies

Posted on August 24, 2026 by Wole Shadare

There are industries in which money follows opportunity. Aviation is one of them. There are also industries in which the absence of appropriate financing prevents the opportunity from ever becoming a reality. African aviation belongs increasingly to the second category. The continent has people who want to travel, businesses that need to move, airports that want to expand, airlines that want to acquire aircraft, cargo operators that need equipment, maintenance companies that need facilities and…

Air controllers say ageing infrastructure hampering safer skies

Posted on April 12, 2026 by Wole Shadare

Lament operational deficiencies, stretched human limits, seek better CoS The situation between the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA)and aviation authorities has reached a critical juncture. At the heart of the tension is a direct conflict between ageing infrastructure and the human limits of those tasked with keeping the skies safe. The primary driver for this potential nationwide flow control is the decay of Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) infrastructure. When the technical “eyes and ears” of air traffic…

Skies of Promise: The Struggle Amid Africa’s Aviation Paradox

Posted on December 23, 2025December 23, 2025 by Wole Shadare

Paradoxically, a continent with some of the world’s lowest per capita incomes also has the highest aviation operating costs, operational inefficiency, and safety concerns, among others, writes WOLE SHADARE With a youth demographic boom, a burgeoning middle class, and economies eager to connect, Africa exhibits the fastest-growing demand for air travel globally. This promising development hints at boundless potential. Yet, scratch beneath the surface, and a stark paradox emerges: for all its soaring ambition, African aviation…

Africa’s empty skies aided by low propensity to fly

Posted on September 9, 2025September 9, 2025 by Wole Shadare

This basic concept of own-price elasticity of air travel in different market segments suggests that if air fares are reduced on Nigeria’s domestic routes, demand for air travel is likely to increase, since these routes are short-haul, and the prohibitive costs of air travel exclude several potential consumers of the service, writes WOLE SHADARE . The disclosure by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) last week, lamenting the high cost of flying’s disruptive impact on the…

Qatar transforms skies into first ever competitive gaming arena

Posted on May 20, 2025May 20, 2025 by Wole Shadare

Qatar Airways has set a new benchmark with the launch of a pioneering e-sports competition, ‘Gaming in the Sky’, onboard a commercial aircraft. The ground-breaking event was powered by next-generation Starlink connectivity and took place on 11 May 2025 during a flight from Doha to London. The tournament brought together a global roster of top gaming and entertainment talent, including Tfue, Castro1021, Lisa Zimouche, Alodia Gosiengfiao, Dantic, SV2, AJ3, Aameghessib, Danny Aarons, Ffearfful, MattHDGamer, and…