The Nation Newspaper

Category: Aviation

  • Prospective airlines may crash fares on domestic routes

    Prospective airlines may crash fares on domestic routes

    Fares on the domestic route may crash soon. New airlines are planning to enter to enter the market. These airlines are grappling to scale the hurdles of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in securing the Air Operators’ Certificate (AOC), a major requirement for airlines.

    According to a source, NCAA has been inundated with requests from many operators and investors interested in coming into the industry.

    Investigations revealed that the NCAA may soon grant approval to at least 10 airlines.

    Active domestic for now are Arik Air, Aero Airlines, Dana Air, Medview Airlines, Chanchangi Airlines, IRS Airlines, and Overland Airways. First Nation Airways, Associated Aviation and Air Nigeria have suspended their operations.

    It was learnt that some operators are concerned that should the NCAA open the floodgate for more players in the sector, air fares may likely drop, as the new entrants are said to be working hard to secure the environment-friendly aircraft that would be economical to operate.

    Since the NCAA certified Dana Air to return for operations, with the issuance of its new air operators’ certificate in line with the revised Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCAR), fares on the domestic route have fallen.

    The reduction in air fares on major trunk routes, including, Lagos -Abuja, Lagos-Port Harcourt, which operators describe as the golden triangle, have led to serious competition, among airlines, with flexible booking offers.

    Apart from Dana Air’s return, the addition of Medview Airlines as well as the return of Chanchangi Airlines have led to reduced fares on the Lagos-Abuja routes, where some carriers had near monopoly status.

    Investigations by The Nation revealed that online booking for airlines has offers a range of fares between N14,000 and N20,000 on the Lagos – Abuja routes in the following airlines, Medview, Dana Air, Aero and IRS Airlines last week, as opposed to the over N25,000 and N30,000, some carriers were offering last year.

    Observers claimed that the higher fare regime last year was predicated on the limited number of airlines in operations at the time.

    Investigations also revealed that evening fares were relatively lower than early morning fares on the Lagos-Abuja route.

    A source hinted that the probable return of First Nation Airways, Associated Aviation, and Air Nigeria, may lead to more competition among players, with fare reduction, as the selling point of the airlines.

    It was learnt that some domestic airlines are concluding business discussions with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer – Embraer, to acquire regional jets, which are fuel efficient and environment friendly to reduce operating costs.

    The decision to acquire Embraer jets, it was learnt, comes on the heels of plans by the manufacturer to set up a maintenance facility in Nigeria, which will reduce the cost of aircraft maintenance, to enable the airlines to charge lower fares and operate efficiently.

    Airlines that are working in this direction, it was gathered, include Associated Aviation, which is set to return soon with lower air fares.

    The NCAA, it was learnt, is excited over the plan.

    An industry expert, who pleaded not to be named, has urged the minister of aviation to distribute the 30 aircraft to be facilitated by government to domestic airlines that are seeking revaluation of their AOC, from the NCAA, insisting that such option is more feasible than setting up a national carrier.

    The expert hinted that giving such aircraft to smaller airlines that operate into secondary airports, as feeder carriers will assist to checkmate the dominance to the big players, thereby bringing about reduction in airfares.

    He affirmed that giving the aircraft to such carriers after due diligence on their managers based on industry knowledge and business plan, will achieve more result than starting afresh a national carrier, which survival remains uncertain.

  • Remodelling has changed face of industry

    Remodelling has changed face of industry

    The Federal Government has announced plans to start the second phase of airports remodelling in the second quarter of the year.

    The plans are coming following the successful remodelling of five of the 11 airports under the first phase. Works is ongoing on the others.

    According to the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, five new terminals will be built in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu.

    The airport terminals will be built under an arrangement the Federal Government reached with some Chinese investors who are expected to fund the project.

    Princess Oduah listed the terminals already built in the first phase as the General Aviation Terminal at the domestic of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Benin Airport, Owerri Airport, Jos Airport, Yola Airport, Kaduna Airport, Sokoto Airport, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and others that were remodelled in the first phase of the project.

    She assured that the government will not stop until all the airports are reconstructed like suitable gateways in other parts of the world.

    Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN), Mr George Uriesi, said the Benin Airport which now has a new air conditioning system will be inaugurated soon.

    Besides, he assured that construction at Sokoto, Jos, Owerri, Enugu and other airports have reached advanced stage as the remodelling train moves to the second stage.

    Uriesi acknowledged that the level of work done at the Benin Airport is commendable.

    Uriesi, while inspecting the work at the Benin Airport, last week, said the government is determined to ensure that airports are given a facelift.

    The inspection also took the FAAN team to three other airports, namely Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri; Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and the Port Harcourt International Airport.

    Uriesi told contractors that the ongoing remodelling was long overdue. He called on airport users to bear with the authority concerning the inconveniences they had to go through during the project execution.

    He said such hassles accompany repairs of a facility while operations are ongoing at the designated airports.

    He inspected the work done at each of the four airports and called the contractors to see themselves as stakeholders in the industry by giving the best service they could render, to make the airports become a hub in the West African sub-region.

    He said the Federal Government is concerned with the welfare of the travelling public, and is committed to raise the standard of operations to world class.

    The Chairman of IRS Airlines, Alhaji Ishaku Rabiu, said the remodelling of the airports has raised the stakes for many operators, who he noted, were getting excited over efforts of the government to fix major infrastructure at airports nationwide.

    He said the fixing of major airport infrastructure would go a long way in attracting more people to travel by air. He noted that beyond the terminal building, other areas of operations would be fixed.

    An aviation consultant, Mr Chris Aligbe, explained that though most industry players did not quite understand the shape of the airport remodelling, when it started, but the completion of the general aviation terminal of the Lagos Airport, has given direction to the project.

    He urged support for the projects, adding that the government appears to be giving adequate attention to infrastructure upgrade at airports across the country.

    Another expert, who declined to be named, observed that with the massive reworking of the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, as well as the expansion of the arrival hall at the airport, appears on course. He urged the government to quickly start the building of the new terminals designated for Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu.

    FAAN’s Director of Airport Safety and Security, Mr Wendel Ogunedo, said the training of personnel to man the terminals is part of the reconstruction.

    He said the Federal Government had embarked on replacing screening machines at airports nationwide.

    He said: “Before the end of this month there will be new screening machines at all the airports in the country and because we do not want to compromise on security in any way, we are providing the privately owned airports with the machines too. We are introducing comprehensive security system and we have been monitoring activities at all these airports to prevent security breach and so far, so good.”

    He said the government had signed a training agreement with the Dubai-based Emirates Airlines for the training of AVSEC officials. Before the end of this month, the first batch of 120 officers will leave for the training and the target is to train about 600 aviation security officials, he added.

    “Although we don’t make our security efforts public, don’t forget that the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) in Lagos was dismantled and rebuilt in one year. During that period operations were done in a makeshift place and throughout that period, there were no security problems. That will tell you that we are working.

    “We have also carried out comprehensive shake up by redeploying workers at the airports and we have decided that no officer will stay at one posting for more than three years, because when they stay too long, they join the system, instead of improving it. We cannot allow the huge resources being expended on the remodelling of the airports to go without adequate security,” he said.

    Ogunedo said the minister is determined to ensure that two major airports in Lagos and Abuja will be certified by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a step that would improve the profile of the airports and attract more international operators to the country.

    “That is why we are changing all the screening machines that have problems. We are installing new machines with after sales service agreement, training and retraining of staff and we are also providing new screening machines for cargo at the cargo shed. Before the end of this year, we hope that we shall realise that objective,” he added.

  • NCAA decries handling of physically challenged passengers

    The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren, has called on airlines and ground handling companies to improve on the procedure for carrying physically challenged passengers into the planes.

    He said manually carrying such passengers is below the minimum standard prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). He urged airlines and ground handling companies to be prepare for the challenge by acquiring modern equipment facilitate the boarding of such passengers.

    He urged the airlines to acquire the equipment to reduce the pain of physically challenged passengers at domestic airports nationwide, saying: ”We need to do more by providing more facilities for physically challenged passengers who use domestic airports nationwide.”

    Demuren’s charge came on the heels of the the inauguration of Ambulift, a motorised equipment acquired by a ground handling firm, Precision Aviational Handling Company Limited (PAHCOL).

    The firm has deployed the equipment at both the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Describing the equipment is key, Demuren said: “We at the NCAA are excited over what PAHCOL has done: this is good for the industry, as it would improve the way physically challenged passengers are prepared to undertake their travels.

    “It is glad that in Lagos and Abuja airports this equipment is now operational. But in the domestic scene, the way physically challenged passengers are handled is a complete mess, it is very far from the acceptable standard.”

    He said having such support equipment at both the Lagos and Abuja airports, is not sufficient, as passengers with disability travel through other airports in Kano, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Katsina, and many other airports.

    The way such passengers are carried manually at our airports when they are either travelling abroad or within for medical trips is unacceptable, he added.

    He urged Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) and Nigetian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc to collaborate with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), to provide passenger support equipment to make the travel experience robust.

    General Manager, Operations/Business Development, PAHCOL, Herbert Odika, said this was the first time such equipment is being introduced by a ground handling company, saying: “The equipment has hydraulic lift to convey passengers through the rear door of an aircraft. Apart from the convenience of carrying passengers, the Ambu- Lift enhance facilitation of passenger”s boarding.”

    Odika said in the past ground handling companies used high loaders meant for cargo and baggage to lift wheel chairs, pointing out that with the introduction of the Ambulift by his firm, that passengers with special need do not have anything to worry about.

  • Unions disagree on GAT verdict

    The Nigeria Aviation Professional Association (NAPA) has hailed the verdict of the Federal High Court, Abuja, striking out the suit filed by the Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) against Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) on the ownership of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Lagos.

    But the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigetia (ATSSSAN), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) branch, said the verdict would not give Bi-Courtney the fiat to take over the terminal which it did not invest.

    Justice Ramat Muhammed, in the ruling, described the suit as an abuse of court process.

    NAPA, in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Comrade Abdul Rasaq Saidu, described the verdict as “well-thought-out and a triumph of truth over propaganda.”

    According to Saidu, NAPA had always insisted that agreements signed by FAAN must be obeyed to the letter, “as there are clauses that make provisions for how to settle any disagreement in such agreements”.

    The Chairman of ATSSSAN , FAAN branch, Comrade Ekanem Ekanem, said the verdict would not give Bi-Courtney the powers to take over the General Aviation Terminal the firm has not invested in the facility.

    He said: ‘‘I don’t think Bicourtney can take over GAT because the company never invested a dim on GAT, you don’t give something to somebody who has not invested anything in the business.’’

    NAPA, on its part in a statement argued: “We had a different opinion from that of the other unions about the concessioning of MMA2 to Bi-Courtney. Inasmuch as the unions were not present when the agreement was being signed, if there is any aspect of it they disagreed with, they should first of all face the people who represented FAAN and the ministry.

    “We are not surprised at the ruling because part of the agreement affecting the GAT and the exclusivity of MMA2 for domestic operations is very clear. We are so happy we have been vindicated, that fairness, justice prevailed at last. We want to say this again that the Minister of Aviation, Princess Oduah, might have acted on the information given to her because she was not in the industry as at the time FAAN signed that agreement with Bi-Courtney.”

  • Bellview, AIB trade words over 2005 plane crash

    •’Why we rejected probe report’

    What caused the 2005 Bellview plane crash in Lisa, Ogun State in which all the 117 passengers died? It is becoming more difficult to unravel this puzzle as Bellview and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) are trading words on the issue.

    AIB has blamed “human error” for the crash, a claim which Bellview deplored. The airline has also written the AIB, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAN), United States National Safety Transportation Board (NTSB), Presidency, National Assembly committee on Aviation and Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    In the petition, the airline denies culpability in the crash, faulting the reasons cited for the accident by AIB.

    The bureau, it said, in a letter signed by its General Manager, Mr Rasheed Yusuff, has not formally delivered the (AIB’s) report to it, in contravention of annex 13 of ICAO.

    Bellview’s disagreement with the report is predicated on the fact that the AIB has not complied with the prescribed rules and regulations of how accidents reports should be released in line with ICAO requirements.

    The airline said the AIB, in line with the prescribed requirement of ICAO, has yet to communicate to it, nor respond to its observations on the final draft, which it has since submitted.

    The airline said in as much as it is determined to know the cause of the crash, the bureau has acted in gross violation of international rules.

    Yusuff said: “We want to put it on record that the AIB is yet to formally deliver the new report to us. This contravenes the regulation of ICAO contained in annex 13 of the global body.

    We are aware that AIB did not receive any contrary comments to the original report. The first report was circulated in 2009, we did not reach agreement with the conclusion, hence our comments should have been appended as provided above.

    “The state of operator in Nigeria and the state of design and manufacture in United States, conducted this investigation jointly. It implied that the investigators had enough time to gather all inputs before the final draft of the report was circulated in 2009. And when investigation is reopened, there must be a fundamental basis that must be shared with the operator to demonstrate that the investigation remain open and transparent.

    “AIB apparently unilaterally amended the final report without appending our observations and comments on the initial draft . This is in clear violation of article 6.3 of International CivilAviation Organisation ( ICAO), annex 13 and the 2006 Nigeria civil aviation act. This we contend has rendered the report invalid.We trust that you appreciate that AIB has an obligation to fully comply with 2006 Civil Aviation Act incorporating ICAO annex.”

    AIB said in its report of the Bellview Airlines crash: “After extensive investigation could not identify the conclusive evidence to explain the cause of the accident, but considered several factors that could explain the accident. They include the pilot in command training before taking command of the Boeing 737, which was inadequate. The cumulative flight hour of the pilot in the days before the accident which was indicative of excessive work load that could lead to fatigue.”

  • Unions, NAMA set for showdown

    The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN) have given the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) a 14-day ultimatum to pay the workers the enhanced salary scheme.

    The workers, in a warning letter to the management of NAMA, which was signed by the executive members of NUATE, Abioye Olayinka, and Abdulkareem Motajo, said they would ground the services of the agency if their demands were not met.

    But NAMA said that a committee had been set up to study the new condition of service with the labour leaders to have an acceptable document for the benefit of the workers and the agency’s management.

    The letter states: “By this general bulletin, all NAMA workers are hereby placed on red alert, as we can authoritatively state that NAMA management has persistently continued to blackmail union leaders and threaten our members directly or indirectly.”

    But NAMA has denied this allegation. General Manager, Public Affairs, NAMA, Supo Atobatele, said in a statement there was no cause for alarm “over the purported strike notice issued by the said two unions NUATE and ATSSSAN on the delay in the implementation of new salary.”

    He said none of its workers or union leaders is being threatened by management.

    He said: “The latest development, however, is that a committee has been set up by the management to look into the grey areas of the new condition of service. We implore the union leaders to cooperate with the management to sort out the grey areas and come up with an acceptable document for the benefit of all.”

    In a related development, the NAMA has put in place the necessary logistics to start area radar control in the country.

    The Managing Director of the agency, Nnamdi Udoh, explained that area radar control is an air traffic control service, provided for airplanes flying within the Flight Information Region (FIR).

    According to him, many air traffic controllers have been trained to handle this operation at both Kano and Lagos area control centres for flight operations in the nation’s airspace.

     

     

     

  • Etihad increases Lagos flights

    Etihad Airways is upgrading its Lagos service to daily flights to meet the growing demand from passengers.

    The new daily service, according to a statement from the airline, would be introduced on March 31, this year to coincide with the start of the airline’s new summer schedule, and would significantly improve connections between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates, and beyond to key destinations across the airline’s network in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, India, Malaysia and China.

    Maurice Phohleli, Etihad Airways’ General Manager, Nigeria and West Africa, said: “We have received a very positive response from the Nigerian market since launching our service six months ago. Clearly, the people of Nigeria appreciate the superior product and service of the World’s Leading Airline and we are proud to serve them.

    “Our passenger loads are strong and we are confident that this route will continue to support the growing flow of business and leisure travellers who fly from Nigeria to the United Arab Emirates, and onwards over the airline’s hub in Abu Dhabi to key commercial and tourism destinations in the GCC, North and Southeast Asia and markets in the Indian subcontinent.”

    Etihad Airways recognises the importance of the West African region and is committed to expanding its footprint across the continent, it added.

     

  • Aviation College to acquire 10 planes

    The Kwara International Aviation College is to acquire 10 aircraft to facilitate the training of pilots, aircraft engineers and other aviation professionals, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said.

    He said in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, that the aircraft would be bought with a loan secured by the Federal Government from the Export Import Bank. It has a moratorium of 10 years.

    He said: “This is part of the reasons we have set up an International Aviation College and, luckily, under the new EXIM loan that the Federal Government has signed with the Chinese and Indian governments and others across the world, the International Aviation College will be benefiting from the loan. It will be able to acquire at least 10 new aircraft under a 25-year loan agreement with a 10-year moratorium. It couldn’t be better than that.”

    The governor said the school would acquire the aircraft, develop economy of scale, train students, earn money and pay back the loan on its own. He said: “The 10-year- facility means that the college’s cash flow will not be under pressure. It is when you borrow money and you have to pay within a very short time that you have pressure on your cash flow. The loan was so attractive that we couldn’t resist it and it is one of the best things that ever happened to us.

    “That will enable the school to get to the much-desired full scale aviation college that we have always prayed for and will allow them to attain economy of scale where they can earn a lot of money to service the school and pay back. For now, the school is fully owned by the state but don’t forget that the state government is not in the business of running aviation.

    “So, ultimately, we will sell off 70 per cent of that business to those who know how to do it and then the school will run on its own internationally.”

    The governor explained that the aviation college was established in response to the demand for pilots globally. He said the college is positioned to serve as a training hub for Africa.

    He said: “For keen observers and those who want to truly see themselves growing among comity of nations, they must begin to learn how to do a clear analysis of opportunities. One big opportunity that exists in the aviation industry is the fact that there is dire need of pilots globally.Check any international airline, they will tell you.

    “Training pilots requires that you understand the dynamics of the business.

    “Apart from Zaria and South Africa, I don’t know where else pilots are trained in Africa.”

    He said by the time this school gets to its potential, everybody in Africa who intends to train as a pilot would know the existence of an Aviation College in Ilorin.

    “For now, we are training pilots but there are other services. There is engineering training. There are other services that are going to go into it. This would become itself a hub for driving aviation business,” he said.

  • Overland begins online booking

    Overland Airways has announced the introduction of online ticket booking and payment for her customers’ convenience.

    According to a statement, customers can book and pay for flight tickets to any of their desired Overland Airways destinations.

    With the introduction of is option, customers now have the opportunity to make reservation and pay for their flight tickets from any part of the country using any of the following debit cards: Interswitch Verve, VISA, Mastercard and E-tranzact.

    The Chief Operating Officer Mrs. Aanu Benson, said: “The introduction of the online ticket reservation and payment will create convenience for our customers as they can book and pay for their tickets online from the comfort of their homes, offices and any other location they find themselves.

    “After the payment passengers will receive their electronic ticket with their unique booking reference number or Passenger Name Record (PNR) via their email addressesfor presentation at the check in counter.”

    “This is part of our commitment to our customers, to continuously innovate to improve their flying experience. From the booking and payment of tickets, to our seamless check-in process and to flying onboard our modern aircraft, Overland customers are assured of a unique travel experience.”

  • FAAN, Immigration collaborate to secure airports

    The Federal Government is introducing fresh security measures at airports nationwide.

    This will include improvement in passenger facilitation on arrival from flight at major international airports, to reduce the time for luggage collection.

    To this end, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) are to install state-of-the-art equipment at the international airports for the facilitation of passenger movement.

    Among the facilities to be given priority are Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The Comptroller-General of the Rilwan, Bala Musa, said during a visit to FAAN’s Managing Director that more counters and cubicles would also be built to resolve problems associated with passenger clearance at immigration points.

    He said the equipment would capture passengers’bio-metrics and photographs, which would be handy if there is need for them.

    Such information, he said, would be relayed at the border posts to secure the country’s gateways.

    Musa, who had earlier inspected the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, appealed to FAAN management to allocate additional offices to his men, who need more space to do their jobs, especially at the Abuja airport.

    He also spoke of plans to facilitate the training of more officers, who would undergo an exchange programme at airports in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States, to see how their airports work.

    Soon, he said, NIS would roll out measures to checkmate the request for multiple passports by Nigerians through the 10 finger prints.

    Director of Airport Security, FAAN, Mr Wendel Ogunedo, said the authority is prepared to ameliorate passengers’ problem.

    He called on other security agencies at the airports to join hands with his organisation in securing the gateways into the country from unlawful interferences.

    Efforts, he said, were on to fast-track passenger facilitation with the completion of the arrival fingers’extension at the Lagos International Airport, which would be fitted with modern equipment to ease movement before the end of this month.

    It is for this reason, he said, that FAAN sent about 30 of its mangers to Manchester in the UK to understudy how the airport system works, to replicate the system in Nigeria.

    Ogunedo said the airport authority is poised to carry out pre-emptive measures to secure the airports against any breach.

    The government, he said, had signed an agreement with the Dubai-based Emirates Airlines for the training of AVSEC officials.