The Nation Newspaper

Category: Aviation

  • Driving aircraft utilisation for local carriers

    Driving aircraft utilisation for local carriers

    Plugging into projected spike in passenger traffic for year-end travels, local carriers are reworking their routing and flight scheduling to align with the completion of ongoing airport facility intended to speed up aircraft movement. Besides driving down airlines’costs, such move, experts say, will boost aircraft utilisation and ensure profitability. KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR reports.

    Local carriers are reworking their route scheduling ahead of year-end travels, which in aviation circle is described as yuletide traffic.

    Significantly, they are strategising on the appropriate aircraft to deploy to optimise opportunities increased passenger traffic would offer.

    The move by the carriers is predicated on regulatory data, which has forecast increase in passenger traffic on major routes in the next two months.

    But, experts have identified the completion of critical airport facilities, including the installation of airfield lighting at the Runway 18L of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA1), Lagos as a key indicator for optimised flights.

    Speaking in separate interviews, they said the timely completion of the runway lights and other support facilities would speed up 24-hour flight operations for local carriers into and out of Lagos Airport.

    In an interview, Head of Strategy, Zenith Travels, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo, said airlines would gain headwinds with the completion of ongoing aerodrome facilities.

    Ohunayo, who is the spokesman of a safety advocate and think tank group, Aviation Round Table Safety Initiative (ASRTI), said the completion of the airfield lighting system on the Runway 18L at Lagos Airport would relieve not only the airlines, but also air traffic controllers.

    He said the facility would scale up the duties of air traffic controllers to give start up pilots for the two runways of the Lagos Airport for aircraft taking off and clearance for aircraft landing.

    He said: “This will make aircraft take off and land easily and more frequently.

    “There is going to be savings from fuel for the airline from what they used to taxi from the international runway and wait before they get to park, such fuel is now saved.

    “Outside that, you also look at the possibility of airlines spending more time in redrafting their schedule to know how best to make use of the  facility coming to them.

    “It is a win-win for the airlines and the industry. It is long overdue and now that it has come let us enjoy the benefits  that  will come with it.”

    Also, former Chief Operating Officer (COO), Tropical Artic Logistics Limited (TAL), a helicopter/logistic company, Babatunde Adeniji, urged the agencies of government to speed up the completion of the Runway 18L airfield lighting system at the domestic wing of the Lagos Airport to enable local carriers harvest the benefits.

    Adeniji said airlines thrive based on their ability to optimise three factors.

    They include cost, yield and load factors.

    He said: “As key facility for aircraft movement the runway completion with the support facilities, including air field lighting will increase capacity.

    “This will offer local airlines opportunity to operate more flight  per time safely effciently and economically.

    This will impact unit cost by driving it downwards just by reducing the times spent taxing, taking off and landing. It will facilitate  better use of aircraft in offering more flights network wide.

    “The loadfactor can increase as a result with the increased flexibility to time and operate more flights to meet passengers demand.

    “Hopefully the yield will improve as they exploit these situations maximally.”

    On his part, President, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Nwuba, said speedy completion of airport facilities would bode well for local airlines by reducing the time they hitherto spend waiting  in approach and landing.

    Nwuba, the former Chief Executive Officer, Associated Aviation, said the completion of the facility at Lagos Airport would improve time for aircraft departure, thereby reducing cost of operation.

    He said: “It will improve operating hours with reduced taxi times. A 45-minute flight that saves 20 minutes on the ground is a huge cost savings

    The numbers depend on the aircraft but at least five per cent  of operating cost daiky would be saved. If you multiplied the saved amount by  365 days and number  of airlines, this  run into billions of naira.”

    Ahead of the yuletide, investigations show that the Federal Government is scaling up efforts to achieve 24-hour  flight operations at major airports.

    To achieve this, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) would focus on aerodromes with heavy passenger traffic.

    Its Managing Director, Captain Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu, said:  “FAAN wants all airports to operate 24/7 because it is a business for FAAN. We earn our revenue from that operations; we are a service delivery agency, but the challenge is will, the 24/7 pay for itself? Somebody has to pay for the 24/7 operations. Will the business pay for itself? If we open an airport with just only three landings, FAAN will close down. No organisation in the world will do that. Even, if you go to Europe, you will find out that many airports are sunrise to sunset. You can operate an airport even for sunrise to midday so that everybody that knows should go around that window.

    “FAAN cannot operate an airport that we cannot break even, because we are already challenged. We want 24/7 days airport, but we need to know if the business will be sustainable. At first, some of the businesses may look as if they are sustainable even for the next two years.  So, somebody must be ready to have the business model to sustain 24/7 operations. I cannot commit to 24/7 operations when you are not coming.

    “We don’t want a situation whereby an airline will start a route now and in the next few months, it will stop such route due to lack of passengers. Then, who will pay for all we have gone through?”

  • Rising operating costs: Airlines opt for fuel efficient airplanes

    Rising operating costs: Airlines opt for fuel efficient airplanes

    Rising operating costs in the aviation eco- system is forcing carriers to adopt medium range/fuel efficient airplanes.

    The move, experts told The Nation, is part of the strategies by operators to survive increasing costs of aviation fuel, aircraft maintenance and spares and agitation by aeronautical agencies to jack up airport, air navigation, ground handling and other charges.

    Among the fuel-efficient airplanes attracting the attention of local carriers include Propeller ATR, Dash 8 Q400, Bombardier CRJ and Embraer regional jets.

    Investigations by The Nation show that even start-up carriers, including Value Jets Airlines,  which secured an Air Operating Certificate (AOC), from the Nigerian Civil Aviation (NCAA), a few days ago parades three Bombardier jets  positioned at the tarmac of the Lagos Domestic terminal primed for scheduled flights. Operators that have devised the new strategy include Green Africa Airways, AeroContractors Airlines, which acquired DASH8 Q400 from a chartered company and Overland Airways, which is pushing for a heterogeneous fleet of propeller ATR and Embraer jets it is expecting.

    Airlines, which suspended operations a few years ago, but reworking their comeback strategy sources familiar with the development say are also looking in the direction of small/medium fuel efficient planes.

    Among such carriers , industry sources say include ChanChangi Airlines, which is finalising preparations with the NCAA to secure regulatory approvals for propeller jets.

    An operator, who pleaded not to named, said some state Governments concluding the construction of airports in their domain are in discussions with airlines to secure smaller/medium aircraft to ply their domain.

    Investigations further show Air Peace, Ibom Air, Azman Air and Max Air are consolidating their aircraft acquisition move in the direction of regional jets that are fuel efficient and environment-friendly.

    Major aircraft manufacturers – Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier , Embraer and ATR are making inroads into Nigeria, a big player in the frontier market for medium range aircraft.

    Meanwhile, Boeing has projected demand for more than 41,000 new airplanes across the global aviation industry through 2041.

    The new Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) forecasts a market value of $7.2 trillion for new airplane deliveries, with the global fleet increasing by 80 percent  through 2041 compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

    Africa’s aviation market, which supports lesscthan ten percent  of global air traffic is set to grow at a rate of 5.2 percent yearly, supporting the delivery of 1000 aircraft in the forecast period to 2041 and representing a fleet growth of 3.5 per cent.

    Boeing sees expansion in the average aircraft size and seats per aircraft, suggesting that mid-size single-aisle aircraft will be most sought after.

    Single-aisle airplanes will account for 75 per cent  of new deliveries, unchanged from last year’s CMO, and totaling nearly 31,000 airplanes.

    Through 2041, new widebody airplanes will account for about 18 percent  of deliveries.

  • ‘How to improve service delivery in ground handling’

    ‘How to improve service delivery in ground handling’

    To achieve improvement in service delivery in the ground handling value chain, operators must invest in equipment, Group  Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer  Nigerian Aviation Company (NAHCO) Plc, Mr Indranil Gupta, has said.

    Gupta said such investment should be accompanied by cutting-edge technology to boost performance.

    Doing these, he said, would endear any organisation to its clients/customers who crave for services delivered in an efficient, effective and seamless manner.

    He spoke at the weekend when the company took delivery of new set of ground support equipment, including  four units of high-capacity Mallaghan mobile steps with chutes and a 14-ton cargo maindeck highloader.

    Also acquired were  five operational vehicles  for crew transportation.

    Gupta said: ”We are committed to satisfying our clients/customers through excellent service delivery, using latest equipment and also confident that the group’s equipment acquisition plan would bolster our resolve in making the our services  a one-stop-shop for aviation logistics and travels.”

  • Push for debt recovery

    Push for debt recovery

    Accumulated debts running into billions of naira  owed  the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) by local carriers is threatening its survival. To checkmate non-complying operators, the apex regulatory body has devised some strategies to recoup the humongous sum. KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR reports

    A crisis is brewing in the aviation industry over the reluctance of local carriers to remit  Passenger Service Charge (PSC) and Cargo Service Charge (CSC), collected from travellers to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    The remittance of the charges is a statutory mandate by carriers, which operate flights in Nigeria in accordance with the civil aviation regulation.

    In the last few years, a new trend has gained traction among indigenous carriers – refusal to remit the mandatory charges to the NCAA.

    Worried over the development, NCAA’s Director-General, Captain Musa Nuhu said indigenous carriers owe the authority  over N42 million and $7.8 million for non-remittances, navigational charges, aircraft landing and parking fees,among others.

    The debt, according to  Nuhu,  was accrued in the last few years.

    Specifically, the NCAA boss said the agency is owed N19 billion and $7.8 million by local carriers, warning that if the trend continues, the sector risks collapse.

    Aside from debts owed to the NCAA, the carriers also owe the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA)  N18 billion and N5 billion.

    At a  stakeholders’ meeting held with indigenous airlines and ground handling companies in Abuja, recently, he warned that if the debts owed were not paid in the next few weeks, the aviation agencies, and by extension the aviation sector, risked collapse.

    Nuhu gave the operators a one-month ultimatum to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NCAA, which would stipulate the repayment plans of their debts.

    The NCAA boss said airlines that refused to comply would not have their licences renewed when they expired.

    He said the new move was to ensure airlines complied with provisions of the Civil Aviation Act of 2006.

    Nuhu said: “The set conditions  are  part of the renewal processes to ensure the regulator does not go under.

    He said: “This is money collected in trust for us from passengers and they squandered it. We are not asking them for an interest rate, no penalties. We just want our funds remitted.

    “We know that if we tell them to give us all the money at the same time, it is very difficult; so, what we have put in place some measures at the NCAA  to prevent the debts from growing. We have put in place a tripartite agreement.’’

    To show that it had capacity to bite,  NCAA last Thursday refused to renew the air transport licence of Aman Air, because, according to the regulator, the airline failed to submit documents for security clearance, its tax clearance and failure to remit over N1.2 billion of passenger/cargo sakes charge it collected on behalf of the authority.

    Other infractions by the carrier, the NCAA said, was its refusal  to sign an MoU to pay N50 million monthly.

    Dramatically, the regulator announced the next day that Azman Air had met all conditions.

    An airline pilot, who pleaded not to be named, however, raised some posers on the development.

    He said: “Now, the question is how come Azman Air was able to fulfill all these conditions overnight? These same conditions the regulatory body had been asking the airline to fulfill since 2021. I just hope it is not what I am thinking.

    “Was it that Azman Air  had all the necessary documents and just refused to submit them or was the airline trying to see if NCAA had the audacity to ground the airline? What is really going on ? We are watching events as they unfold.”

  • Enhancing airports’ flight efficiency

    Enhancing airports’ flight efficiency

    Local carriers have, in the last 12 years, lamented the additional costs borne on aviation fuel for aircraft taxiing to take-off at the runway of  the  Lagos Airport international wing after sunset, because the local wing runway lacks airfield lighting. But aircraft in the coming weeks can take-off and land at the domestic Runway 18 Left as the Federal Government completes civil works and installation of lights at the facility. KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR reports.

    Domestic carriers are upbeat over plans by the Federal Government to complete repairs for the installation of airfield lighting and other civil components on Runway 18 Left in the Domestic Terminal 1, of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

    The carriers are excited that the government has risen to the occasion by fixing a critical airport/air navigation gap in the strategic air transport industry.

    The move by the government, it was learnt, came on the heels of persistent complaints by indigenous carriers that they were burning additional resources in procuring expensive jet fuel to move their airplanes on the taxi-ways after sunset from the local wing of the airport to the alternate runway at the international wing of the aerodrome.

    Minister of Aviation, Captain Hadi Sirika had assured the Federal Government was committed to fixing gaps in transport infrastructure.

    Besides, the carriers lamented that inability to utilise the domestic runway for 24-hour flight operations was having a negative impact on their business.

    The Umbrella body of domestic airlines-, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), over the years listed lack of lighting on the runway as one of the reasons flights were  either delayed or cancelled.

    The carriers said  the inability of the Federal Government to install airfield lighting at Runway 18L of the MMA led to an increase of about 40 per cent  of their operational costs – spent taxing and holding.

    To reverse the trend, the Federal Government mobilised its contractors to sit on July 8, last year to commence work on the component of the air transport infrastructure abandoned 12 years ago.

    Setting a 90-day timeline for completion, the contracting firm has embarked on a series of civil works to pave the way for the upgrade of the runway’s  ground light fittings, taxi- way expansion and other interventions intended to scale the facility to global standards.

    Investigations revealed installation of  AirField Lighting (AFL) for the 2.7 kilometre 18L/36R domestic runway of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), which was recommissioned in 2008 after rehabilitation without runway lights.

    Investigations reveal that the contractor has completed the marking of the runway centreline light with 240-metre marking from the threshold.Other jobs completed include touchdown lights, insertion of fittings at the holding point  and  markings of taxiways.

    In an interview during a tour of the facilities at the weekend, Managing Director,  Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Yadudu, said civil works and and installation of lights on the Runway 18 Left of the Murtala Muhammed Airport is  90 per cent completed,

    Yadudu said apart from the Lagos Airport, FAAN was upgrading other airports.

    He noted that the Runway 18 left has been closed for the installations of Approach lights, Runway lights, Threshold and Center edge lights amongst others, to effect the new technology for it to return to its 24-hour operations.

    He said the recent tour was the 10th of the ongoing work on the Runway, saying there were people supervising the work daily.

    “So far, I think we have done about 90 per cent. We are on schedule and remember we are very optimistic but if anything would make it to be delayed, I would boldly disclose such.

    ” I would rather have a good job concluded, safely. Aviation is not about quick fixes it’s about long term fixes.

    “For 12 years, this has not worked, but now you’re getting it in a few months.

    The FAAN boss also noted that the construction of proposed Abuja Second Runway would take off immediately after the completion of the airside lighting project on Lagos Runway 18 left / 36 R, adding that the contractor is already mobilized and would move to site any moment.

    He also hinted that discussions are ongoing on the proposed light rail project linking International and local wings of Lagos airport.

    The FAAN boss said the Federal Government was working on other interventions to improve safety for flight operations at the airport.

    Yadudu said FAAN will continue to engage airlines and other stakeholders on the steps to be taken before new facilities are installed at the airport. He said very soon the uograde of facilities will remain a permanent feature to bring the aerodromes to global standards.

  • Nigeria loses $250m revenue yearly to disincentives in agro-export produce

    Nigeria loses $250m revenue yearly to disincentives in agro-export produce

    Extortion, harassment and multiple charges from aviation and other agencies at the airport are causing Nigeria a yearly revenue loss of over $250 million.

    The huge revenue would have accrued from deepening participation in the nation’s air freighting of agro-cargo export produce.

    The Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA), Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, said this in a paper he presented at the second edition of the Aviation and Cargo Conference (CHINET 2022) at the weekend in Lagos.

    Adesugba said government agencies at the airports erected many obstacles which constitute a disservice to the export/import of agro-cargo produce in the country.

    Until these hurdles are crossed, he said, government efforts to attract more revenue into the gross domestic product (GDP) will not materialise.

    Adesugba noted that 11 out of the 16 charges levied at the airports on businesses involved in agro-cargo are illegal.

    The NEPZA boss insisted that such unfriendly charge regime was responsible for many international cargo airlines preferring to fly empty out of the country.

    He said: “Among the 16 sundry charges tracked for goods coming in or departing the country via airports, only five are officially recognised. Nigeria’s import-to-export airfreight ratio imbalance stood at 87:13 from available statistics.

    “The implication, according to cargo agencies, is the loss of at least about $250 million on

    agro-export produce to the country.”

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    Adesugba listed other challenges as: lack of modern infrastructure, lack of corporate governance, policy and regulation, high cost of aviation fuel, inadequate funding and resources, high cost of operation, insecurity, insurance and corruption.

    The NEPZA boss said to support the aviation industry and stimulate multiplier effects in the economy, the Federal Government, in May 2021, designated the four major international airports – Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt – as Special Economic Zones to enable the companies operating at the airports to enjoy the benefits of the free zone scheme.

    He added that airports special economic zones are designed to accelerate investment in the Aviation sector and its value chain.

    Adesugba also said the zones are expected to improve the utilisation of the airports, generate more revenues for the government as well as attract more local and foreign direct investment and increase aviation contribution to the GDP.

    According to him, ASEZ can grow the aviation and cargo export in Nigeria with the incentives and concessions available in the Nigeria Free Zones with specific concepts, such tax holidays, one-stop approvals as well as 100 per cent foreign ownership of businesses.

    Adesugba advocated “complete tax holiday from all Federal, state and local government taxes, rates, Customs duties and levies, one-stop approvals for all permits operating licences and incorporation papers” for those doing businesses at the airports.

    The NEPZA boss also called for “duty-free, tax-free import of raw materials and components for goods destined for re-export” for such businesses.

  • Experts to examine cargo, insurance at conference

    Experts to examine cargo, insurance at conference

    Experts and players in the aviation and allied sector will beam their searchlight on how to unlock opportunities in the industry as they meet in Lagos in the month at the second Chinet Aviation and Cargo Conference.

    The forum, which will provide a window to examine the role of cargo airports in the growth of exports in Nigeria, will define new paths in the development of National Aviacargo Master Plan,  and seek new roles for insurance regulation in growing aviation and cargo.

    According its organiser, Mr. Ikechi Uko, the meeting besides looking at the impact of accident investigation on the growth of aviation and cargo will also examine the place of logistics as one of the biggest obstacles to exports, and reasons why Nigerian exports arrive the market more expensive than competitors on account of logistics and charges.

    The conference is held yearly for stakeholders and players.

    This year’s event with the theme: “The Role of Insurance and Regulation in Growing Exports, Aviation and Cargo Business in Nigeria”, is expected to build on the successes of the last one and address the challenges thrown up by it.

    Leaders in insurance led by Chief Babajide Olatunde-Agbeja of Boff & Co. Insurance Brokers Limited, have been lined up to discuss identified issues and more.

    The executives of leading insurance companies and top brokers are expected to join the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to discuss the roles of the various components of insurance in the development of aviation.

    Chief Olatunde-Agbeja is an insurance guru of many years and an experienced aviation insurance expert.The  session will be driven by two lead speakers and discussants of the highest calibre. This will be the most robust discussion on insurance and aviation.

  • Towards airlines’ safety

    Towards airlines’ safety

    The call for the improvement of safety systems in air transportation is gaining more traction. As global carriers push for the implementation of safety measures, agitation is on the rise for Nigerian carriers to set up investigative units. KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR writes.

    Global aviation safety organisations are pushing for zero accident.

    They are consolidating measures to drive the implementation of safety management systems for airlines, ground handling firms and other players in the logistics value chain.

    To achieve this, regulators in the industry are deepening measures, including stricter enforcement of standards, recommended safety practices and robust training for airworthiness safety personnel in airlines to up the stakes in passenger confidence in air travel.

    Against  this backdrop, more carriers are undergoing certification to improve safety.

    To drive the agenda, the Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N), Akin Olateru, has called on airlines to establish an accident investigation unit to enhance air safety.

    Olateru stated this last week  while receiving an investigation team from Cameroon, which is probing the crash of the Havilland DHC -6-400 Twin Otter by Caverton Cameroon at the Bureau’s headquarters in Abuja.

    Olateru said this would help airlines to understand and take advantage of the benefits of accident investigation.

    According to Olateru, big carriers, including American Airlines, have such units, which has benefited the carriers. He said it was the responsibility of operators to have an understanding of accident investigation.

    He said the AIB-N training school in Abuja, when completed, would play a significant role in training airlines’ personnel in accident investigation.

    The Cameroonian delegation, led by Mrs Leopoldine Essimi of the Ministry of Transport included Col. Brice Okomou, Capt. Raymond Ekenglo and Mrs. Mispa Samnick, said they were in Nigeria to seek AIB-N’s expertise in the reading of the flight recorders, transcription of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), analysis of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and FDR animation.

    The DHR-6-400 Twin Otter (registered TJ-TIM) was operating Yaoundé (Nsimalen) – Dompta – Yaoundé (Nsimalen) on May 11,  this year, when it crashed, killing the passengers and crew members.

    The aircraft was found crashed in a forest, not far from Nanga Eboko.

    According to Olateru, Nigeria was part of the investigation in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annex 13 since there were Nigerians onboard the ill-fated aircraft, adding, however, that Cameroon has not decided whether it would cede the investigation to Nigeria or not.

    Olateru said Nigeria would be assisting Cameroon in the investigation with her Flight Safety Laboratory, which, according to him, is one of the best in the world.

    The lab has an upgraded facility called Memory Access Retriever System (MARS), which will be deployed to retrieve information from the CVR, which was badly burnt and damaged.

    He said: “As you are aware, we have one of the best safety laboratories in the world. We have the capability, which the United States NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) has, which is getting information from burnt or damaged flight recorders. This aircraft crashed and a recorder badly burnt, but we will be able to retrieve the information. This is one of the best pieces of equipment you can find in the world.”

    The two countries are, however, exploring areas of cooperation and collaboration that can boost accident investigation and air safety in Africa.

    Olateru said: “You will understand that this is not the first time Nigeria will be helping other nations. We helped Sao Tome and Principe during an investigation. We helped Gambia. We helped the Niger Republic. We are helping Sierra Leone. We just got approval from the Ministry of Justice to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sierra Leone to help them set up an accident investigation body.”

  • Enhancing passengers’ transit at Lagos Airport

    Enhancing passengers’ transit at Lagos Airport

    From September 1, five foreign carriers will relocate to the new terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The transition would include passengers checking – in,  in one terminal and picking their luggage in the complementing facility, writes KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR.

    Passengers using the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos are in for a new experience.

    From September 1, five more carriers would relocate their operations to the world-class edifice.

    Of the eight foreign carriers that indicated interest to switch their operations, only five were cleared. But, the terminal has been running with indigenous carrier – Air Peace – processing its West African regional flights, South African flights and Intercontinental flights – Lagos-China operations – out of the new facility.

    Built under the collaboration of the Federal Government and the People’s Republic of China, the air transport facility is part of the government’s infrastructure upgrade.

    The new terminal, which is coming after over four decades after the old facility was put in place, has been described by experts as work-in-progress for air passengers.

    Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Director-General Captain Musa Nuhu described the Terminal 2, MMIA, as a hub in the making, given the transit facility in place in the edifice.

    Nuhu said the facility would enable users to connect one section of the old terminal with the new one using the link bridge.

    Speaking last week after a tour of the facility, Minister Of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the new terminal would provide the latest technology in air transportation.

    He noted the modest check-in areas, passport control/immigration desks, screening machines, a 22- room hotel, six boarding gates and praying areas for both Muslims  and Christians.

    According to the minister, there are also Port Health screening facilities, passport control, baggage claim areas, and an arrival concourse.”

    As five foreign carriers relocate into the new terminal this week, experts said passengers would experience a new feeling as different border management agencies have scaled measures to make passenger facilitation seamless.

    Sharing his experience of the facility, the Minister said: “This edifice and the others is a testament to the commitment of the Buhari administration’s unprecedented infrastructure development covering roads, bridges, rail, water dams and sea ports.

    “No administration in the history of Nigeria has done this much , especially at a time of scarce resources. The new terminal of the Lagos International Airport was not built to replace the old terminal. It was erected to complement it. This explains why passengers could check- in at one terminal and board their flights at the other terminal. So, there is integration between the two facilities.”

    Giving further details on the profile of facilities at the new terminal, Mohammed said it has equipment intended for the processing of 14 million passengers yearly.

    Such passenger footfalls, he said, would be handled with 60 check-in counters, five baggage claim belts, 16 departure desks and 28 arrival desks

    He went on: “To make flight operations seamless in this new facility, there is in place eight security screening points at the international terminal and seven passenger boarding bridges. This is a whole new experience in airport management and passenger facilitation. It is entirely driven by the desire to ramp up air travel aesthetics, and comfort. There will also be at passengers disposal free trolley services, hotel and premium lounges, friendly customer feeling and free wifi.”

    Also, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu, said efforts were ongoing to expand the ramp at the new terminal to accommodate more airlines and improve on the passenger travel experience.

    The FAAN boss said the construction of the second concourse is underway to support equipment at the terminal.

    He said the airport management was in touch with airlines on how to work out a framework that would alight with their scheduling for transit passengers into the facility.

    Experts said the new facility was part of Nigeria’s journey to make its airports a hub for West and Central Africa.

    Nigeria, experts said, by its geographical location would serve as a  hub for passengers travelling from Southern Africa, Europe into Asia and the United States.

    But, it would need a functional airport with the requisite facilities to drive such status.

  • Trapped foreign airlines’ funds: Ex-NCAA boss seeks dollar payment for tickets

    Trapped foreign airlines’ funds: Ex-NCAA boss seeks dollar payment for tickets

    A former Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, has  urged the Federal Government to allow foreign carriers to allow passengers in First Class and Business Class cabins to pay for tickets in United States dollar while passengers in economy class can pay in Naira.

    The former NCAA chief said doing this would help the carriers to repatriate their funds with ease and put a stop to the issue of trapped funds or at best, help to significantly eliminate the problem, particularly at a time the country is not earning enough dollars to meet with the myriads of pressure on foreign exchange.

    Demuren gave the advice at the Aviation Round Table (ART) second quarter 2022 Breakfast Business Meeting, with the theme, “Perspective in Multi-Layer Aviation Security System and Passenger Facilitation” in Lagos yesterday.

    Demuren’s position aligns with that of the foreign carriers that had initially planned to start asking passengers from Nigeria to pay for their tickets in dollars to avoid a situation that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is incapable of helping them to repatriate their accumulated funds.

    Airlines on APG Interline Electronic Ticketing Agreements (IET) GP code 275 had in April this year disclosed that they would start accepting Dollars for tickets.

    This new policy according to the group was a result of the difficulty in repatriating airlines’ huge funds stuck in Nigeria and other countries coupled with foreign exchange

    APG IET gives travel agencies the facility to issue a much wider range of airlines and flight combinations than would otherwise be available via your GDS.

    In a swift reaction, the APG airlines within 24 hours rescinded the decision after the CBN planned to wield the big stick against the airlines for going against the country’s policy that goods and services must be paid for in the country’s currency.

    To cut its losses, South African Airways (SAA) on August 9, 2022, adjusted its ticket sales from naira to dollars, announcing that it would start selling tickets originating outside Nigeria in dollars but tickets sold in Nigeria would still be sold in Naira.

    Asked if his suggestion will not hurt the economy, Demuren said: “Listen to me. You must take emotions out of it. When people leave the shores of Nigeria, do they spend Naira? The people in the first and business classes are people who have money, and who can pay in dollars due to the current forex crisis. I know that there is a pride in national currency and I believe that there is a wide disparity between naira at the official and the parallel markets and one which leads to speculation. It is dangerous.

    “This problem needs to be solved and we must stop this problem. Your family is abroad? Ok, you will go by boat to go and see them when the airlines stop operation. They have money but they can’t take it out. It is not done in other places. You need to cut your losses. What I am saying is that we can solve it. The Minister of Aviation, DG NCAA, and Minister of Finance are working on it. They are sitting down to look at it. It will keep growing.

    “You know Varig Airlines; that is why they left the country. They did not come back. Other people left and did not come back. At the end of the day, if they don’t get their returns, it is not good business for anybody to do. We have to face it. If the government has a solution, that is great. They must work together. This government didn’t cause it. It is a problem we have. If Nigeria is selling oil, we will have a lot of oil. We have to make sure we solve it together.”

     

    President, ART, Dr. Gabriel Olowo said that in view of the current