The Nation Newspaper

Category: Aviation

  • Arik offers Valentine low fares

    Arik Air is extending love to its valued guests this Valentine season, with the introduction of new attractive fares for economy and business class travel across all its domestic, regional and international routes.

    According to a statement, passengers booking these flights will enjoy super savings over previously published fares on the applicable routes as part of the airline’s ‘With Love from Arik Air’ special fare campaign to celebrate the Valentine season. Customers can enjoy even greater savings when booking seven days or more in advance,through the airline’s website www.arikair.com. In addition, customers will enjoy a 30 per cent discount on the cost of the return leg fare of their journey when they book return domestic flights.

    The ‘With Love from Arik Air’ online fares follow on the back of the introduction of the ‘Book-on-Hold’ service last month, which allows passengers to book tickets online through the airline’s website and pay later.This is part of a raft of changes being rolled out over the coming months to enhance the customer experience.

    Arik Air’s Global Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, said: “We have always been a value based airline, offering good value for money without compromising our safety and quality standards and ensuring a warm and exciting travel experience on board our aircraft. Our size, extensive network in Nigeria, combined with our superior product, gives us considerable leverage to offer such dynamic pricing.

    “This year we wanted to give something back to our customers and reward them for helping make us Nigeria’s leading airline. We believe this offer will give more of our guests greater flexibility of flights at very attractive prices across our entire network.”

     

  • Chanchangi decries high cost of fuel

    Chanchangi airline has decried the high cost of aviation fuel in the country, describing it as a major setback for domestic airline operations in the country.

    The Lagos Station Manager of the airline, Mr Babadiyia Ahmed, made this known to aviation correspondents in an interview in Lagos. He said about 70 per cent of the operational cost of airlines in the country was for aviation fuel.

    According to Ahmed, a litre of aviation fuel JET A1 costs between N160 and N180 per litre, and that this has greatly affected operations in the country’s local route. He added that the government in the past tried to find solution but nothing came out of it.

    He urged the government to look into the challenges of aviation fuel and resolve it for the advantage of both the airlines and the travelling public.

    Ahmed noted that airline business was always dull in the first quarter of every year as low traffic were recorded during the period.

    He said Chanchangi airlines was overcoming its problems with arrangement concluded for the arrival of its own aircraft, adding that Owerri and Port Harcourt routes, which the airline has been operating before the problem will be added as soon as the aircraft arrived.

  • Lagos, Benin airports lead in abandoned planes, says FAAN

    The Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos and the Benin Airport have the highest number of abandoned planes, the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), George Uriesi, has said.

    He said FAAN may increase the number of teams dismantling dead and abandoned aircraft at airports nationwide.

    There are over 60 abandoned aircraft at the airside of airports across the country.

    The FAAN boss said many planes could have been abandoned at the Lagos airport because it once served as the base of their owners.

    He linked the high number of abandoned aircraft in Benin to the fact that it served as the operational base of Okada Air, hitherto one of the nation’s major operators.

    Most of the abandoned and moribund airplanes at Benin airport are the banned BAC 1-11.

    Uriesi said the team dismantling airplanes has successfully done three, adding that FAAN may increase the team to make the job faster.

    On the time frame for dismantling dead planes, Uriesi said there is no time frame, because some planes are bigger than others.

    He added that when FAAN issued ultimatums to owners of the dead airplanes to move them from the airport, many did not take the matter serious until the team started working on the aircraft.

    The United States (US) government, through a consular officer attached to its Embassy in Lagos, Mr Jerrod Hanssen, has hailed FAAN for remodelling of airports. Speaking when he led a delegation of economic officers to the corporate headquarters of FAAN in Lagos, Hanssen said it was necessitated by his government’s desire to extend a hand of fellowship to FAAN, which he said was making remarkable strides in repositioning airports.

    Welcoming the delegation, Uriesi said the upgrade of infrastructure at the airports was geared towards building a greater aviation future.

    Uriesi said FAAN is determined to change passenger’s experience of service delivery at the airports, stressing that airport terminals of the past were for travelling only, but modern airports have turned to commercial centres.

    He explained that some airports around the world would have folded up if they had relied solely on aeronautical sources of revenue, whereas the trend, which FAAN has adopted, is offering more commercial opportunities that will encourage business, entertainment and leisure at airports.

     

  • BA launches Valentine offer

    British Airways has announced another special discount offer for its Nigerian customers travelling on its World Traveller (Economy), World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy) and Club World (Business) class customers travelling to the United Kingdom, and select destinations in Europe, North America and Canada.

    Known as ‘The Valentine Special Offer’ in celebration of this year’s Valentine’s Day, a statement explained that it affords British Airways Nigerian customers the opportunity to make fantastic savings while travelling on these cabins to London and select, European, United States and Canadian cities. But the passengers must hurry as the amazing fares are only valid for booking until February 15, 2013.

    Explaining the offer, Country Manager, British Airways/Iberia in Nigeria, Mr Kola Olayinka, said the new offer, which is valid for flights from Lagos or Abuja means the airline’s customers can travel from Abuja to London and select European destinations from just US$255 in the airline’s World Traveller or US$949 in World Traveller Plus, and Club World from just US$2,199. The European destinations include France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland and Luxembourg.

    For those travelling to select US and Canadian cities, the fare starts from US$609 for World Traveller, US$1,549 for World Traveller Plus, and US$2,959 for Club World.

  • Nahco upgrades Kano warehouse

    The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco Aviance) is modernising and expanding its Kano warehouse to enhance service delivery.

    According to a statement, the warehouse is situated at the company’s headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. It is 17,068.5m² in size and can handle 230, 000 tonnes of import cargo and 60,000 tonnes of export cargo per year.

    It also has other highly automated facilities for effective operations.

    The Kano project is in line with the ongoing Federal Government’s airports modernisation and expansion programmes.

     

  • FAAN repairs six fire-fighting trucks

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has taken delivery of six fire fighting trucks sent to Kronenburg in the Netherlands for repairs.

    In a statement, FAAN said the vehicles would boost its drive to have adequate fire cover for the certification of the Lagos and Abuja airports.

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) prescribes a minimum of three fire fighting trucks to qualify any airport for certification.

    The Director of Airport Operations, Capt Henry Omeogwu, explained that the vehicles would help in containing any fire incident at the airport.

  • NIMET gets weather calibration lab

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) Weather Instrument Calibration Laboratory at four airports are now operational, its Director-General, Dr Anthony Anuforom has said.

    They are Murtala Muhammed Airport Ikeja, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and Port Harcourt International Airport.

    During an interview in Abuja, he said the laboratory was completed last year, adding that NIMET engineers have been trained on the use of the laboratory.

    He described the laboratory as a component of equipment profile that will stimulate safety and assist the agency in giving accurate measurement of weather conditions.

    The laboratory, he said, is designed for correcting instrument errors through calibration, for more accurate measurement of weather variables.

    He said: “If you have a wind instrument, if you don’t calibrate, you cannot guarantee that the variable is accurate.”

    Anuforom said five Upper Air Stations are functional in the country as against the single station a few years ago.

    He spoke of plans to fix two air stations that would be functional soon.

     

  • Pilots can make air returns, say experts

    Should pilots make air returns mid-flight? Yes, thay can, say experts to save passengers.

    Accrding to them, returning a plane to the airport, from where it took off, if there is any problem mid-air, is better than subjecting the passengers to the danger of a crash.

    The respondents are Dr Harold Demuren, the Director-General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA); Captain Dele Ore,President, Aviation Roundtable; Mr Chris Aligbe, an aviation consultant and Mr David Babatunde, General Manager, Medview Airlines.

    They said passengers should not be disturbed over the matter, because a pilot takes charge of what happens during a flight.

    The experts spoke against the background of a recent air return by the pilot of Medview Airlines Boeing 737-400 on its Lagos-Abuja-Yola flight 15 minutes after it took off from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Demuren said air return is a standard industry practice that pilots embark upon, at any point in a flight, they realise that during either due to weather, mechanical for safety reasons. Such return may be informed by weather or mechanical reasons, he said.

    Pilots, he said, should be praised for such an action, because failure to take act could have adverse effects on the aircraft.

    The NCAA boss said it was wrong for people to suggest that the rising incidence of air returns by some airlines, is evidence of lack of safety.

    Aligbe said: “Air return is a normal development in the aviation sector. Travellers should not be afraid; it should not create unnecessary panic in the sector. It should not be viewed as a sign of lowering standards of air safety.

    “In the last instance, when Medview Airlines had an air return, the industry reacted appropriately. The reaction from the Federal Ministry of Aviation was spontaneous. Even the airline involved – Medview Airlines – also responded to the issue. Rather, I think the pilot should be commended for his professionalism. It was caused by power surge in one of the engines, which resulted in a bang. The pilot shut down the affected engine and initiated an air return. That is enough evidence of a knowledgeable and professional pilot.

    Ore said: “First, we commend the professionalism and airmanship exhibited by the crew of aircraft. The capable handling of the situation makes the crew members to be an asset to the industry. When an engine aircraft has lost the only engine, then there could be cause for concern, but if one engine fails on a twin-engine aircraft, there should be no alarm if the crew members have been well- trained. An air return could be as a result of any one or combination of the following as highlighted in Part 5:5:1:4 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2006 entitled: “Reporting of failures, malfunctions and defects which may occur after the aircraft must have been airborne.”

    Ore listed some of the conditions that could lead to air return to include fires during flight and whether the related fire-warning system properly operated; fires during flight not protected by a related fire-warning system; false fire warning during flight and an engine exhaust system that causes damage during flight to the engine, structure, equipment, or components.”

    The General Manager, Medview Airlines, Mr David Babatunde, said: “The professional decision, which is in consonance with global practice, is a demonstration of our commitment to safety of flights and passengers. We give kudos to the passengers on board the flight, who remained undaunted and waited for the airline to provide an alternative aircraft to fly them to their various destinations – Abuja and Yola.”

    The Chief Pilot of Aero Airlines, Captain Russell Leefoon, described air return as a challenge that calls to test the competence of the pilot in command of the flight.

    Leefoon said: “My word of assurance is that air return does not really matter. Passengers should not panic. It does not mean that the aircraft is bad. It is for the competency of the pilot. Is not that the engine has failed.?The engine has not failed, but we return for maintenance, to make sure that everything is put in place. Air return is not necessarily something that should cause panic, but something that should be corrected and get thing right.”

  • NAMA to begin 24-hour services at three airports

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) will start 24-hour air traffic management services at three airports next month.

    According to its Managing Director, Mr Nnamdi Udoh, the airports are Yola, Owerri and Enugu.

    He said the decision was taken after consultation with the authorities.

    The agency, he said, would take off after the installation of air field lightings.

    He said NAMA would negotiate with the airport authority and airline operators who wish to operate night flights at the airports.

    He said: “The reason we are creating 24-hour operations is to take care of late operations at such airports. Such airlines will have to pay NAMA money, but if I make it 24 hours, I think that more planes will come and pay money. So, declaring 24 hours is good; that was what informed our decision. We want to provide manpower; we want to make more airlines to fly.

    “It will help to take care of situations were airlines do not have to get worried once it is 6 pm. Pilots do not need to be running around because you want to go and land in Owerri before they close. We are going to make all these airports 24 hours from March when the manpower is available.

    “There will be notice to airmen for the airports. Critical among them is Yola, Owerri and Enugu. We want to do that so that the airlines can schedule their operations. We will talk with them and find out which airport they want and any airport any operator wants will be available 24 hours.There is no point keeping it open and we don’t use it because most of those airports run on diesel.”

  • Embraer wins $4b order 

    Brazil’s  aircraft manufacturer Embraer  has  clinched a deal worth $4-billion to supply larger regional jets for American Airlines’regional network, sending shares soaring on hopes for stable production this year.

    Embraer and Republic Airways Holdings Inc. signed a contract for 47 E-175 jets, with an option to acquire an additional 47 aircraft. The new aircraft will be operated by Republic under AMR Corporation’s  American Eagle brand.

    The contract provides a relief for the order-starved Brazilian plane maker after it lost the first major U.S. order for regional jets under labour deals allowing regional affiliates to fly larger planes. In December, Canadian rival Bombardier Inc. booked a Delta Air Lines deal about $3.29-billion.

    And the battle for pent-up demand in the U.S. is just getting started, according to Paulo Cesar de Souza e Silva, the Head of Embraer’s commercial aviation unit.

    “America is still going to buy more of that size plane,” Mr Silva said in a telephone interview, laying out the sales campaigns ahead. “We’ve got American, United, U.S. Airways and regional operators too. In the next 18 months those campaigns will determine orders for about 400 planes.”

    Shares of Embraer jumped over 11 per cent in early Sao Paulo trading, their biggest one-day rise in almost four years, before paring their gains to be up nine per cent.

    Embraer’s new contract is subject to court approval due to bankruptcy proceedings at American Airlines – approval that the plane maker said it expects by the end of March.

    Delivery of the dual-class 76-seat jets would then begin in the middle of 2013, with two or three jets arriving per month, according to American Airlines. American agreed to have Republic acquire and operate the planes under a 12-year contract.

    Mr Silva said the Republic contract did not involve resale of any used planes, which was a part of Bombardier’s Delta deal.

    Embraer’s output this year has hinged on securing demand for open production slots after a scarcity of big orders bled its order backlog, a pipeline of future revenue, to a six-year low. Some analysts had already cut their 2013 and 2014 output forecasts amid the drought of new orders.

    “We are very confident that we’re going to maintain production levels this year,” said Mr Silva.

    The new planes flying in the American Airlines network will be the first to feature a series of mid-generation upgrades, including new wingtips and other aerodynamic changes to boost fuel efficiency by five per cent.

    Part of an industry push for more efficient aircraft, the upgrades are aimed at holding on to customers impatient for an overhauled lineup of Embraer’s regional E-Jets with Pratt & Whitney’s geared turbo fan, which aren’t due for delivery until 2018.