Aviation

Airlines’ survival hinges on thriving airports, says aviation Perm Sec

DailyTimesNGR DailyTimesNGR 22 August 2024 0

BY CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO For airlines to survive in the country, there must be inextricably linked to the strength and viability of the airports they rely on. “Without thriving airports, there can be no thriving aviation industry. Airport viability, therefore, is not just a priority – it

Aviation

Airlines trapped funds: FG directs CBN to reconciliation meeting 

DailyTimesNGR DailyTimesNGR 14 September 2023 0

By Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo In a bid to resolve the lingering trapped airlines’ trapped funds, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) hold quarterly reconciliation meetings with a view to finding a lasting solution to a matter that has damaged the country’s reputation in the eyes of the global aviation […]

Aviation

Blame Nigerians for exploitative fares by foreign airlines-Expert

Ihesiulo Grace 22 March 2023 0

BY CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO Nigerians have been blamed for the exploitative airfares by foreign airlines as a result of the chances and choices which the country refused to take which invariably led to the consequences of what many referred to as exploitative fares. The President of Aviation Safety Round Table (ASRT), Gabriel Olowo reacting to “Foreign […]

Aviation

Airlines business not profitable with low cost fare-United Nigeria Airlines boss

Ihesiulo Grace 27 February 2023 0

The Chief Operating Officer for United Nigeria Airlines, Osita Okonkwo, shares his experience on the operations of the airline especially on low cost fares, spare parts acquisition, fuelling among others. In this interview, CHIKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO brings you excerpts… Can you give us an overview of the United Nigeria Airlines? On the 12th of February 2021 […]

Aviation

Airlines tasked with incident reporting

Ihesiulo Grace 2 November 2022 0

By Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr Matthew Lawrence Pwajok has urged pilots, air traffic controllers, airlines, ground handlers, passengers, and other stakeholders in the aviation industry to continue to report aviation incidents to the safety authorities as this would further enhance the relative

Business

Foreign Airlines berate FG over trapped funds

Ihesiulo Grace 26 October 2022 0

By Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The Association of Foreign Airlines Representatives of Nigeria (AFARN) has berated the decision not to allow foreign airlines to repatriate all their funds from the country, describing it as a gross violation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA). Speaking to journalists in his office at NAHCO to announce this year’s safety […]

Headlines

Airlines increase fares over rising fuel cost

Ihesiulo Grace 29 July 2022 0

Nigeria airlines have increased fares for domestic flights to at least N80,000 depending on the trip over the rising cost of aviation fuel and foreign exchange (FX) crisis. Checks by TheCable on Friday showed that Azman Air flight from Lagos to Kano/Kaduna increased from about N60,000 to N100,000. Air Peace also increased fares to N80,000 […]

Headlines

Fuel scarcity: Airlines warn of imminent disruptions to Flights

Ihesiulo Grace 17 May 2022 0

The Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) has warned that the flight operations of its members may experience disruptions due to a growing scarcity of aviation fuel (Jet-A1). A statement signed by AON’s spokesperson Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, said the “The scarcity is impacting negatively on seamless conduct of air transport operations and would lead to flight […]

News

Nigerian ambassador praises United Airlines resuming US-Nigeria flight

Ihesiulo Grace 2 December 2021 0

Five years after it suspended Houston-Lagos operations, United Airlines inaugurated flights between Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) on Monday. ”This new flight from Lagos reinforces our ongoing commitment to growing our network in Africa and providing more convenient service to the destinations

Business

Local airlines resume operations with LAG-ABJ flights

Ihesiulo Grace 9 July 2020 0

Following the recent re-opening of the airports by the Federal Government and successful compliance with the NCAA guidelines, after three months of COVID-19 lockdown, some domestic airlines on Wednesday resumed operations at Lagos Airport. The airline operators include Air Peace, Arik Air and DANA Air. For instance, Air Peace and Arik Air have commenced operation […]

Business

Expert makes case for national carrier as foreign airlines dominate airspace

Ihesiulo Grace 7 July 2020 0

The chairman of West Link Airlines, Captain Ibrahim Mshelia has said that government cannot continue to allow only foreign airlines serve its international travellers as that is counter-productive economics stating that Nigeria cannot survive the currency slide against foreign currency. Captain Mshelia who to journalists spoke said it was against this backdrop and many

Business

‘Why passengers should expect delay, other changes amid airlines resumption’

Ihesiulo Grace 6 July 2020 0

Domestic airlines are expected to commence flight operations this week, in some selected routes. In this piece, CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO looks at the new operational procedures adopted by domestic carriers and the expectation of passengers. It is expected that, most domestic airlines will resume flight operations across the country. In the post-covid-19 era, experts have

Business

Flight resumption: Airlines can’t break even on 40% load factor-Olowo

Ihesiulo Grace 5 June 2020 0

President Aviation Round Table Safety Initiative (ART), Dr Gabriel Olowo has said that no airline can ever break even with less than 40 per cent load factor at the extremely low fares prevalent in the Nigerian market where passengers pay less than $100 per hour on jet engines. Dr Olowo made this known responding to […]

News

COVID-19: Reps want local airlines to evacuate stranded Nigerians abroad

Ihesiulo Grace 12 May 2020 0

Abuja – The House of Representatives has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Aviation to ensure that local airlines enjoy the right of first refusal, where Nigerians need to be evacuated. This was sequel to the unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Mohammed Bello (APC-Kano) and eight […]

Aviation

Airlines face $100 billion-plus virus hit, discounts ‘wouldn’t do any good’

Ihesiulo Grace 5 March 2020 0

The coronavirus epidemic could rob passenger airlines of up to $113 billion in revenue this year, an industry body warned on Thursday, while the head of a large U.S. airline said the drop-off in travel demand seemed driven more by fear than economics, similar to what happened after the disasters of Sept. 11, 2001. “We […]

Aviation Business

Airlines continue to divert flights over visibility

Ihesiulo Grace 13 February 2020 0

…Diversions are imperative for safety, says NAMA Again, airlines are diverting flights to Accra, Ghana over low visibility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos is 1000 metres. Our reporter also learnt that visibility in places like Cotonou and Lome are lower than 600 metres. Airlines like Emirates, Dubai to Lagos diverted to Accra […]

Business

Dana air rewards travel agents at Christmas

Ihesiulo Grace 29 December 2017 0

…Launches new product As part of efforts to ensure that its guests continue to enjoy best fares on its flights, one of Nigeria’s leading airlines Dana Air, has launched the Dana Air Smart Sale to encourage its guests to book early, plan their trips and get smart fares on their roundtrip booking on all its […]

Interviews

Nigeria’s huge business potential excites Emirates – Parambil

Ihesiulo Grace 4 November 2017 0

Emirates Regional Manager, West Africa Commercial Operations, Afzal Parambil, in this interview with CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO, highlights the importance of Nigeria’s aviation market to Emirates Airlines and its connectivity to world’s biggest aviation market, China. He speaks on other issues about the airline’s expansion policy, among others. Excerpts You were recently posted

Aviation

Ghanaian president calls for investment in aviation

Ihesiulo Grace 1 November 2017 0

The first aerospace show and Aviation exhibition with the aim to establish Ghana as the hub of aviation in Africa has ended in Accra. The platform was organized to create opportunities for aircraft fleet modernisation, aviation investment opportunities, aircraft financing and networking to ensure the continued growth of the air transport business. Over 100 exhibitors […]

Money

CBN to sell dollars to manufacturers, airlines, others in special auction

Ihesiulo Grace 26 January 2017 0

In order to clear the backlog of dollar obligations that businesses owe, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has asked Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to bid in a special currency auction, forex traders disclosed. In view of this development, commercial banks are expected to submit backlog of dollar demand from fuel importers, airlines, raw-materials producers, […]