The Nation Newspaper

Category: Aviation

  • Five years after, AMCON’s intervention in Arik Air yet to materialise

    Five years after, AMCON’s intervention in Arik Air yet to materialise

    In 2017, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) put Arik Air under receivership.  But after five years of applying its therapy, the beleaguered carrier seems to be tottering towards collapse, writes KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR

    Running airline business in Nigeria is becoming a study for book makers.

    Data indicate that dozens of carriers have existed in the country in the last few decades, setting an unenviable record as one of the countries in the globe with a long list of failed airlines.

    Experts have, however, attributed poor business plan, wrong use of equipment, unfriendly policy environment, multiple aeronautical charges and, significantly, owner/manager syndrome as reasons airlines  fail.

    Worried over the trend, some industry watchers have coined the terms  “The bust and boom circle”, for the airlines.

    Experts, including the Managing Director of African Aviation, Mr Nick Fadugba, have noted the short life span of carriers.

    The former Secretary-General of African Airlines Association (AFRAA) said many carriers hardly experience  growth a decade after their establishment.

    Experts have, however, cited the trajectory of one of Africa’s promising carriers – Arik Air,

    From a promising outlook in terms of operational pedigree and fleet size a few years ago, the carrier for a myriad of reasons navigated itself into near collapse, forcing the Federal Government to put it under receivership by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

    But, a few years afters, AMCON  is  overwhelmed in debts. Experts, who pleaded not be named, said the carrier is experiencing enormous operational difficulties that has put the interventionist agency in a dilemma over what to do with Arik Air Limited five years after it took over the management of its operations.

    To put it simply, the once strong carrier, which aircraft manufacturers considered a model of how to grow airlines in Africa, is in dire straits.

    AMCON took over Arik Air  in February 2017 and appointed Mr. Kamilu Omokhide as its Receiver Manager with the mandate to turn around the fortunes of Africa’s biggest private carrier within a short period of time.

    Investigations have  shown that Arik Air, which had over 30 serviceable aircraft in its fleet with about 3,000 workers at its peak, was down to 10 as at December 2017.

    The carrier investigations revealed experienced difficulties in operating flights due to mounting debts to  local and foreign organisations.

    The debt profile at the time of the AMCON acquisition, by some accounts, was put at N300 billion, consisting of foreign and local debts with a backlog of unpaid salaries and  charges. Total foreign debts  totalled $51million with that of Lufthansa Airline put at $47 million.

    But, a debate is still raging between the original owner of the carrier – Johnson Ikhide-Arumemi – and the AMCON team taking charge at the airline.

    The mandate of the receiver manager was to reposition the airline and put it on the path of recovery within a short time, but after over five years, Arik,  rather than improve, has further nosedived from the 10 aircraft AMCON inherited to a few aircraft, downsized, unmotivated workforce.

    More precarious is the inability of AMCON to address the mounting debt profile it inherited at take over of Arik, though it was able to pay recurrent debts, according to the submissions of  Omokhide during a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation headed by Nnolim Nnaji early this year.

    The committee had summoned AMCON, the Receiver Manager, heads of aviation agencies and the unions based on petitions by the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, (ANAP) and Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP).

    NUP and ANAP had petitioned the committee to prevail on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) not to issue an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) to NG Eagle Airline being floated by AMCON based on the huge debts owed the aviation agencies.

    AMCON claimed that the debts Arik owed the aviation agencies and other creditors would be classified as bad debts and would not be paid but the union countered the receiver manager who made the proposition for AMCON on the ground that the majority of the debts owed the agencies were taxes, which include ticket sales task (TST) and passenger service charge ( PSC), which Arik collected for the agencies from travellers.

    The union stressed that Arik also owed  the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) billions of naira for navigational and communication services provided to its flights and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for landing parking charges as well as other charges which included rents across its airports.

    Experts also believed that the planned Nigeria Eagle Airline appears  dead on arrival as local and foreign creditors might have slammed it out of existence with several litigations to recover their money so long as Arik aircraft and assets were to  be inherited by the NG  Eagle Airline  to serve as AMCON equity to the new airline.

    Omokhide had tried to convince the committee that floating  NG  Eagle Airline was a non-destructive exit plan considered better than liquidation since his job was not supposed to last this long.

    Experts suggested that the best option would be to liquidate the airline if NG Eagle Airline would not inherit the liabilities of Arik Air after acquisition of its assets because the creditors would never allow it.

    They said if the NG Eagle Airlines was taking over the assets of Arik, it should not ignore the liabilities and advised AMCON to liquidate Arik to save it from embarrassments that would follow in form of litigations from aggrieved creditors.

    Recently, the AMCON announced the additional debt overhang of over $50 million on the NG Eagle Airline due to the failure of the NCAA to issue it with the AOC to save it further indebtedness.

    On the way forward, experts said it would be advisable to liquidate Arik.

  • Travels firm gets BA’s award

    Travels firm gets BA’s award

    An indigenous destination management company – Finchglow Travels has clinched the Overall Best Seller for 2021 by British Airways.

    The travel and logistics management firm was awarded the prize for deepening sales for the airline last year.

    Presenting the award, Head of Sales, British Airways, South Asia, Middle East and Africa, Mr. Moran Birger and the Country Manager, British Airways, Mrs. Adetutu Otuyalo, said Finchglow Travels performed excellently in 2021 and the airline looked forward to better form in 2022.

    The firm’s Managing Director, Mr. Bernard Bankole, said: “The most-fulfilling thing about the award is that it is a testament to our commitment to excellence and delivery of quality service. We are thrilled to have further proof that Finchglow Travels is the best in this industry and it is with great pleasure that I dedicate this award to our esteemed customers, and staff who made this possible.”

    “We have worked with British Airways for close to 13 years as a trade partner and over the years, the experience has been fruitful. We look forward to doing more business with the British Airways team; we reassure our esteemed customers and trade partners of our unwavering commitment to excellence.’

    Finchglow Travels was also named the Highest Selling Agency to London and Best Performing Agent in Nigeria by British Airways.

    Bankole said Finchglow Travels would be expanding to Kano in May. This is in line with the company’s goal to expand across Nigeria and Africa.

    Its General Manager, Sales and Operations, Mr. Ezekiel Ikotun, said: “We are determined to reduce the burden of travel management services on travellers and this will continue to propel our expansion across different states in Nigeria and the region.”

    “Finchglow Travels has been in existence since 2006 and within that period we already have eight offices across Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. We will continue to expand in line with our set vision. We have built a solid reputation and we have continued to soar by adopting excellence as our watchword.”

  • Towards improving air safety

    Towards improving air safety

    Some countries in West Africa, under the aegis of the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA), have canvassed synergy, pooling of expertise, adequate training of personnel, among others, to achieve efficiency, writes KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR.

    THE International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has continued to evolve measures that will improve air safety on the ground and in the air. Part of it is the strengthening of standards for its nearly 200 member-countries, including Nigeria and others in the West African sub-region.

    To drive the initiative, some countries in the sub-region, under the aegis of the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA), are determined to ensure that it is the most-efficient regional accident and incident investigation organisation.

    The regional body said the objective could be accomplished if countries attached to the group pursued adequate training, improvement on  equipment procurement, and finances to achieve efficiency in the probe of air accidents and serious incidents.

    In an interview, BAGAIA Commissioner Charles Irikefe Erhueh said experts in the accident investigation space on the continent had held meetings on the issues and proffered solutions to the challenges affecting the value chain.

    According to Erhueh, the onus lies on the regional body or states to imbibe what had been learnt, and infuse it into their operations to grow.

    He said: “In the panels we had the opportunity to discuss the experiences of organisations in research materials on accident prevention and aeronautical incidents, as instruments for prevention; we analysed barriers, facilitating factors, and initiatives to promote the incorporation of scientific evidence in the practice of professionals.

    “We reviewed the evolution, challenges, and opportunities opened by material specialists. We understand that technologies promote new attitudes and ways of thinking on the part of professionals and the evaluation of the impacts of innovations; we discussed the challenges to train and retain professionals capable of developing new skills as a form of intermediation.

    “From our ability to improve operational safety culture to our roles as authorities in the investigation and prevention of aeronautical accidents while diving down to our role in educating in the development and promotion of civil aviation security will tell you how prepared we are in the evolutionary step of safety.”

    It also highlighted the need for membership expansion to ensure that policies were followed through.

    Also, the Minister of Tourism and Transport, Cape Verde, represented by Jose Luis Sa Nogueira, said the development of air transport in Africa depended on the effort of countries to create universal conditions defined by the Chicago Convention, which guarantees air safety in each country.

    He said much had been done in recent years to strengthen BAGAIA’s institutional and operational capacity, stating that other instruments were being prepared for its consolidation.

    He highlighted the manual of investigation policies and procedures, training, management agreement with ICAO, stating that the government of Cape Verde would ensure that its role was in line with BAGAIA’s and BAG’s major objectives on air transport.

    BAGAIA has reiterated plans to continue strengthening its regional bond and improving safety on the continent by deepening ties with its new allies.

    Irikefe said: “BAGAIA will continue to be interested in strengthening this alliance we have forged together in the sub-region; while looking forward to doing more to ensure safer skies bereft of accidents and incidents.

    He called on states to establish guidelines that would aid them in putting values in place to further boost safety.

    “The performance of the aeronautical activities are not just a consequence of the individual characteristics of the human element and the group in which it is inserted, but also of the characteristics of the organisational environment in which it is inserted. Therefore, organisations must seek to establish in their guidelines, actions that favour the rooting of behaviors, values, and attitudes in for the sake of safety and security;

    He noted the group’s drive to integrate new members in the region and beyond, stressing the need for members to show commitment financially as only by doing so would BAGAIA grow and fulfill its primary function.

    Erhueh said: “Our expansion drive within the continent; how we can integrate more states into the BAGAIA family and ensure already existing members show commitment financially as that would go a long way in helping us achieve our purpose and have the capacity for training our investigators to be prepared for when they may be called to assist.

    “No one wants or prays for an accident but as the saying goes ‘safety is no accident. It is planned’ and ‘Preparation’ is the Boys’ Scout motto and we chose to be prepared and not caught napping.

    ” Banjul Accord Group region  always come together to fine-tune strategies on the way forward with regard to investigating accidents while strengthening our cooperation in the sub-region.”

     

  • Joy as MMIA new terminal comes on stream

    Joy as MMIA new terminal comes on stream

    The new terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, coming 42 years after the old edifice was inaugurated, will change the face of air travel, KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR reports.

    It is a dawn at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. Flights have begun taking off from its new terminal.

    The take off of flights from the new edifice has laid to rest speculations that the terminal was not fitted with state-of-the-art equipment.

    Since the terminal was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari on  March 22, airlines, passengers and other airport users were sceptical about when operations would begin at the terminal.

    Their anxiety was sequel to a series of mock and calibration carried out by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), with other agencies whose personnel are attached to the new terminal.

    But, all that changed last Tuesday, when Air Peace relocated its flights from the 42-year-old terminal to the new edifice, which is a collaboration between the Federal  Government and the Peoples Republic of China.

    Air Peace spokesperson Stanley Olisa, who confirmed the kick off of the carrier’s regional and international flights from there, said many passengers were excited to travel from the new terminal, which experience has changed the narrative about aviation infrastructure in Nigeria.

    The airline is the first to relocate to the terminal, which has the capacity to handle 20 million passengers yearly.

    According to Air Peace, passengers flying to Accra, Banjul, Johannesburg, Dubai, Dakar, and Freetown should process their tickets from the new terminal.

    Olisa said: “Passengers flying to Accra, Banjul, Johannesburg, Dubai, Dakar, and Freetown are expected to proceed to the new terminal to process their tickets, boarding and check-ins. Our ground personnel will assist you to ensure you seamlessly adjust to the new development.

    “Our ground personnel are ready to assist the passengers to ensure they seamlessly adjust to this new development.”

    Investigations by The Nation showed that the new  terminal is equipped with censored conveyor belt, seven jet bridges, 10 ultra-modern cooling systems, heat extraction in the baggage hall, ample space for duty-free shops and banks, recreational areas for children, and for stop-overs, among other facilities.

    ‘”There are also 66 check-in counters, five baggage carousels, 16 immigration desks at arrival, 28 desks at departure, eight security screening points, six passenger boarding bridges with remote boarding and arrival.

    “Others are two food courts, four premium lounges, 22 guests rooms and spas, 16 airline ticketing offices, visa on arrival and port health facility, praying areas, more than 3,000 square metres duty-free spaces and over 5,000 square metre letable utility spaces.”

    Besides Air Peace, it is unclear when other airlines would move into the facility.

    Speaking in an interview last week, the Comptroller of the MMIA command of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs. Kemi Nandap, said many officers of the border management agency had been trained on facilities handling at the new terminal.

    Nandap explained that the training was to ensure that the officers were well-equipped for the job ahead, stressing that the Command being the first port of contact for international travellers coming into Nigeria, required committed, hardworking and refined officers to represent the image of the country.

    She said: “The officers are undergoing an intensive training programme, which is aimed at re-orientating them and ensuring that they are adequately prepared for the task ahead.

    “Upon the completion of the training, the officers are expected to go round on attachment at various wings and other sections like the Visa on Arrival, Statistics, Human Resources, Quits Aviation and other key areas of the airport.

    “After these, the officers will be assessed based on their performance. If the Command is not satisfied with any of them, such an officer would be sent back for retraining.”

    The Service Headquarters had recently redeployed over 30 officers to MMA Command, following the inauguration of the new terminal.

    Investigations also showed that the  new terminal is part of the  Airport Infrastructure Initiative of the government. It has been described as  a new dawn in the sector; it is built on an architectural acreage of 50,887 square metres with modern multi-functional facilities that would play an important role in promoting the economic prosperity of Lagos.

    The facility, according to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, is expected to  stimulate healthy aviation operations, strengthening foreign trade, cultural exchanges, and tourism development as well as enhancing the trade and tourist links between Nigeria and the world.

    Experts, including former spokesperson of Nigeria Airways, Mr. Chris Aligbe, described the new terminal as an infrastructure needed to scale up air travel in Nigeria.

    FAAN’s Managing Director Captain Hamisu Yadudu said it would assist to drive a hub status for Nigeria.

    In an interview, he said: “Having the terminal inaugurated is the first stage, other services and processes will be brought forward to create a facility that is work in progress. The passengers may see just a mere terminal open for use for flight operations, but as an airport authority, we see it differently, because airport terminal operations throw up new trends and development every day, so we have to keep at it to deliver what is world-class.”

  • Raising local content bar in aircraft maintenance

    Raising local content bar in aircraft maintenance

    Securing slots at offshore maintenance facilities remains a headache for Nigerian carriers who spend huge sums on the exercise. The critical infrastructure deficit is being addressed by an indigenous firm, 7-Star Global Hangar, which objective is to stem capital flight. KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR reports.

    Taking aircraft overseas for major repairs constitutes a significant percentage of the cost of running airline business in Nigeria.

    Besides, the huge cost of the exercise and absence of a centre for the overhaul of an aircraft have widened the gap in the transfer of technology in avionics to engineers and technicians and other professionals.

    But, not any more. An indigenous company, 7 Star Global Hangar Limited, licensed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has unfolded plans to begin heavy maintenance checks on airplanes.

    By this move, experts say the company would be saving over $1 billion spent by local carriers on fixing their aircraft at facilities in Eastern European, North Africa or United States.

    Dana Air is partnering 7 Star Global Hanger on the heavy maintenance checks (C checks).

    Its  Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Sukhjinder Mann, made this known at the first aircraft handover to the new Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Repair (MRO ) partner at the 7 Star Global Hangar in Lagos.

    The airline official said the decision was taken after considering the technical capacity of the facility.

    He said: “After months of stringent due diligence, we are pleased to announce that we have selected 7 Star Global Hangar as our preferred Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) service provider and as a result, have further enhanced 7 Star Global Hangar’s MRO services to include the MD80 aircraft range.

    ”The selection of 7 Star Global Hangar is as a result of Dana Air’s commitment to the growth of the economy and by extension the development of Nigeria’s aviation sector. We have previously sent our fleet overseas for the heavy maintenance checks and are proud to announce that we will be keeping this activity in Nigeria.

    “What this means is that Dana Air has created massive job opportunities in the aviation sector. When I say sector, I mean non-airline commercial operations.This appointment means more job opportunities for Nigerian engineers, planners and technical specialists. It reverses the previously outward cash flow from the economy, whereby we used to pay foreign service providers and this means that these funds will be retained within the country and will aid economic growth within Nigeria.

    “I also believe that our appointment will also give a proudly Nigerian brand 7 Star Global Hangar more leverage to compete with global MROs.”

    The Dana Air boss further said the decision to appoint 7 Star Global Hangar  was due to its exemplary maintenance track record: it maintains the Presidential Fleet and is equipped to carry out aircraft line and heavy maintenance, including aircraft wheels and brakes, upholstery and fix operations.

    ”Dana Air is reinvesting in the aviation sector, and promoting Nigerianisation, and this gives me great pride as it is, in line with our core value of putting Nigeria first in everything we do. I am also extremely grateful to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for their support in our intention to keep the work in-country and that of the approval granted to the MRO to service our aircraft type.”

    NCAA over a year and three months ago granted  7 Star Global Hangar, an Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) certificate to operate an all-inclusive MRO facility.

    The Chief Executive Officer, 7 Star  Global Hangar, Isaac Balami, said: “7 Star Global is the first independent privately owned MRO in West and Central Africa. I say independent because it is a stand-alone and we were registered in 2012 and since then, for about nine years, we have been back-to-back pursuing our licence and variation with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    “We are happy to announce that after over 15 months of the NCAA reviewing our variation and our operational specifications and expanding our capability list in wheels and breaks, non-destructive testing (NDT) etc, we have  finished our phase five, which is the last stage in the certification and we have been granted final approval.

    “The huge capital in aircraft maintenance we often experience, amounting to over $1billion that is annually spent in West Africa alone is going to help to create jobs here in Nigeria.”

    On the maintenance specification, Balami said the organisation could carry out operations as permitted by the NCAA.

    She added: “We are happy to say goodbye to four years’inspection/maintenance on Augusta 139 helicopters, which most VIPs, even the Presidency operate.

    “Most oil and gas companies (Mobil, Shell, and Chevron) operate it. We also have EC 155 up to 6000 hours/12 years’ inspection; on the Learjet 45, about 9,600 hours’ inspection; on the small Cessna aircraft, we have about 100 hours/yearly inspection and on the Bombardier DHC-8 100/200/300 (C Checks/8000FH), DHC-8 400 (C checks/8000FH), Challenger 601/604/605 (2400 hours inspections), Hawker Siddeley HS 125-850/900 (A-G Inspections), Bell 429 (5000 hours/5 years inspections), Embraer 135/145 (Up 5000hours/48months inspections), Embraer 600/650 (20000 hours/96 Months Inspections) and Boeing 737-300/400/500 (Up to 8A inspections), we have the highest inspection in most of the aircraft as stipulated in the manufacturer’s manual.”

    Balami said investment by the government and private sector players in the aircraft repairs value chain would grow the business and reduce capital flight.

    He said the involvement of more indigenous players in aircraft repairs business would not only grow aviation technology, but ultimately, lead to the manufacturing of not just spares, but   airplanes.

    He regretted that Nigeria accounted for the highest number of aircraft ferried overseas for maintenance constituting over 75 per cent of the expenditure.

    Balami said : “Indeed, Nigeria is not alone in the critical infrastructure deficit.

    He further stated that none of the West African countries has a MRO, conceding the MRO hubs to Johannesburg, Nairobi and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – all of which have national carriers that are dependent on Nigerian market for traffic.”

    He said  in the last few decades the aviation sub-sector in Nigeria had suffered because of its inability to establish proper Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facilities, a crucial infrastructure that ensures that the airline aspect of the business maintains a balance in its cost-intensity.

    Balami said with  the emergence of new MROs in the country it was logical to look at areas of synergy to grow the budding market.

    He said : “ Over $1 billion is spent annually on aircraft maintenance. Nigeria contributes about 75 per cent of this expenditure.

    “That is a huge capital flight. Those of us that are in the sector and in MRO business, feel frustrated about it.

    “This is obviously a serious blow to Nigeria’s economy because I think that if the Aviation Ministry has $1 billion, you can imagine what it  will do with it.

    “Yes, there is 100 per cent interrelationship between cost of airline failure and cost of maintenance overseas. Asides aviation fuel, maintenance is the second biggest cost for Nigerian airlines and it is affecting our airlines badly.

    “The issue is when you put Boeing 737 on the ground and it is not flying, you will be losing over $100,000 every day. This is because your fixed cost and your variable cost are known. You cannot change it because whether you fly or you don’t fly you will still do maintenance; whether it is after 500 hours, 1,000 hours or 18 months, whether it is D-check, whether it is C-check; that you are not flying does not mean that you won’t conduct checks on the aircraft,” he stated.

    Balami identified high cost of maintenance overseas as the major reason why Nigerian airlines go under after a short period of operation.

    “Aircraft maintenance is determined by the calendar and cycles. So when you are not flying, you may not be getting the cycles, but the calendar is affecting it; so at the end of 18 months, you must do it.

    “When you do it overseas you spend extra cost, including fuel cost, visa for your crew, allowances you have to pay, hotel accommodation and time you are going to spend. You are also going to pay for navigational charges.

    “If you are going to the US, you will be losing about three to four days. You will stop and fuel. What you will spend on your aircraft taking them overseas will be enough to pay your staff for a certain period,” he explained.

    On the struggle for homegrown solution, he  said both private and public efforts to revive the essential facility in Nigeria lately have not yielded the desired result.”

  • Oneworld Alliance key to our operations, says Royal Air Maroc

    Oneworld Alliance key to our operations, says Royal Air Maroc

    Morocco’s national carrier  Royal Air Maroc has described its membership of the global airlines’ network Oneworld as a strategic move that will allow its passengers to connect any part of the world with other carriers.

    As the only African airline in the group, the carrier said its membership of the body would guarantee better connection between the continent and other parts of the world.

    At a briefing to mark the second anniversary of its membership of Oneworld, Royal Air Maroc Support Division Director, Karim Benchekroun, and Oneworld Chief Executive Officer, Rob Gurney, described the relationship as a feat that would launch the carrier to greater heights.

    Bencheroun said the carrier considered Nigeria as a very important market for Royal Air Maroc hence, the decision to celebrate its anniversary into  Oneworld Alliance in Lagos.

    He said: “We are here to communicate with our customers about this membership and the considerable advantages it offers.

    “Nigeria is a natural market for us, given its excellent relationship with the Kingdom of Morocco.’’

    He added added that this country is also an important market for aviation, because of its large customer base.

    On the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis on air transport, the Support Division Director of Royal Air Maroc indicated that Nigeria is one of the first markets it took over as soon as restrictions were eased.

    He said: “Being the first African airline to join Oneworld since April 1, 2020, Royal Air Maroc is not only bringing this prestigious alliance to Africa, but also  linking Africa to Oneworld.

    “It also means that passengers in Nigeria and Africa now have access to an extremely large network, with no less than 1,000 destinations in 170 countries, and access to up to 650 lounges in different airports and other benefits.

    “The integration of Royal Air Maroc within Oneworld will benefit the company’s passengers  who will draw  from better experience thanks to optimised connections between the fourteen member airlines with assistance shared internationally. This membership will also contribute to the international promotion of the African destinations served by the company.

    “Being part of the Oneworld alliance consolidates the position of Royal Air Maroc as one of the leaders in air transport in Africa.”

    Gurney said: “Thanks to Royal Air Maroc, the Oneworld network is considerably reinforced in Africa, thus offering excellent connectivity to business and leisure destinations in the region. As international travel resumes, Royal Air Maroc customers can expect more rewards and benefits when flying with the airline and its partners at Oneworld.

    “Royal Air Maroc will be an important contributor to Oneworld. Thanks to Morocco’s proximity to Europe, the RAM hub in Casablanca is well placed to serve as a gateway to Africa for the benefit of Oneworld customers.”

    Gurney said when the airline joined the alliance, it added more than 30 new destinations in Africa to the network, adding that with a strong network of more than 80 destinations, Royal Air Maroc’s membership in Oneworld allows would position it as the alliance of choice for customers to and from this region.

    “As the health crisis has subsided these days, the alliances will continue to play a key role in providing member airlines with a global network to better serve their customers,”  he added.

  • Driving partnership for air transport infrastructure

    Driving partnership for air transport infrastructure

    Forty-four years after the first one, a new international terminal was inaugurated at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMIA), Lagos. Several obstacles, including small site, requisition, relocation of facilities and complicated underground pipe network hindered the construction. But, the promoters adopted sectional construction, provision of temporary passenger paths to push the facility to completion, writes  KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR.

    Air transport infrastructure received a boost recently when the Federal Government gifted the industry another airport terminal expected to enhance passenger facilitation, safety and comfort.

    This is coming 44 years after the old facility was inaugurated as the premier gateway for passengers, either departing or arriving Africa’s most populous country.

    The new terminal in Lagos is part of the  Airport Infrastructure Initiative of the government. It has been described as  a new dawn in the  sector; built on an architectural acreage of 50,887 square metres with modern multi-functional facilities that would play an important role in promoting the economic prosperity of Lagos, reviving healthy aviation operations, strengthening foreign trade,  cultural exchanges, and tourism development as well as enhancing the trade and tourist links between Nigeria and the world.

    Besides, the facility, experts said, is a new aviation landmark in Africa

    During its construction and implementation, CCECC Nigeria said the project team surmounted many difficulties, such as the small site, requisition and relocation, large flow of human traffic day and night, and complicated underground pipe network.

    However, through scientific planning, sectional construction, changing the pipeline network at nighttime, and the provision of temporary passenger paths, the team overcame the difficulties to ensure the smooth completion of the project.

    The  Ambassador, Peoples Republic of China to Nigeria, Jianchun Cui, said the the terminal was one of the benefits of the bilateral relationship between the two countries in air transport infrastructure.

    Besides the boost it would give to Nigeria’s image in the global arena in upgrading its air transport facilities, the new terminal will have huge impact on economic activities.

    Cui said: “We have done some evaluations and assessments about this project. it is very important for Nigeria because Lagos is a metropolitan city. So, we have built this to international standards. With this state-of-the-art terminal, I believe we can attract more passengers to Nigeria. After COVID-19, countries are opening and people would like to come to Nigeria and travel out of Nigeria and they will do that through this gateway. Through this terminal, we can access the international community and people will benefit from this. This is a flagship project for China and Nigeria.”

    He said Nigeria was on the march towards embracing multi-modal transportation, which he said was gaining traction globally.

    “Nigeria is planning a huge railway project and we are working on this  project. If we have a railway, it would be easy for people to travel and we are working on the pipeline. The challenge, however, is how we can get the money. How can we get reliable and reasonable terms of the finance? This is the challenge for us. But we are working hard and we are talking with the banks to do this for us. The banks are using their professional language. They are calculating the risks and how they can get the money back because we are in a difficult situation. We are looking at how we can lift people out of poverty.

    “During my speech at the commissioning of the terminal, I told the president that whatever the project, plan, policy, partners require, the most important thing is the political support. So, this is very important. The two countries from the top levels, from business levels, from people to people, from party to party, we need to work hard to build this trust.’’

  • Firm unveils passengers’ loyalty programme

    Firm unveils passengers’ loyalty programme

    Travel technology and destination management company – Wakanow has unveiled its partnership with ThankUCash, Africa’s leading loyalty and rewards company, to launch a customer loyalty programme, WakaPoints.

    WakaPoints is set towards charting a new course in the African travel space.

    Speaking at the unveiling of the new product, its Chief Executive Officer, Adebayo Adedeji described Wakapoint as an innovative approach to reward loyal travellers and give back value for their patronage.

    With WakaPoints, its customers earn points on every travel booking which they could redeem  on their next booking.

    Adedeji  said: “WakaPoints is a show of our unflinching commitment to ensure that our customers have the best travel experiences with us.”

    Also, Chief Executive Officer, ThankUCash, Simeon Ononobi, said: “We are excited to have partnered Wakanow on building this first-of-its kind loyalty programme in the travel space in Africa and I am convinced that everyone who signs up on WakaPoints are in for a rewarding experience.”

    Also, Wakanow’s  Chief Commercial Officer, Adenike Macaulay, said: “WakaPoints, for us, is not just a loyalty programme; it is an avenue for us first to say ThankU and to foster closer relationships with our customers, to better understand,  anticipate and fulfill their travel needs.

    “To say ThankU to all customers, Wakanow is giving out 20,000 bonus WakaPoints to its customers who have transacted with them in the past 13 years and the points are redeemable.

    “Wakanow’s central focus is its customers and every product and package is created with that at the forefront. With 26 Travel centres across Africa, Wakanow is poised to ensure that Africans have the best travel experiences and also be at the forefront of showcasing the African beauty, heritage and culture to the rest of the world.

    “In most African markets, loyalty, deals, and rewards services are a rarity. The unit economics and other factors such as currency instability make such businesses hard to pull off in the region. Yet, ThankUCash, a platform launched by Connected Analytics, has managed to thrive, proving that not all is gloomy in the deals, coupon and rewards business.

    “ThankUCash connects customers with businesses in a bid to help businesses grow and prosper while helping customers get the best deals and earn some cashback on every purchase made.”

  • Furore over relocation of facilities at MMIA

    Furore over relocation of facilities at MMIA

    Barring any hitch, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will begin the demolition of some facilities used by organisations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, that obstructs the aircraft maneuvering area for the new terminal. But, not all hangars involved in aircraft maintenance and repair services will be affected. KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR reports.

    Confusion is brewing in the aviation sector as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) plans to demolish facilities to pave way for the new terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

    Those to be affected include the Accident Investigation Bureau(AIB) building, Dominion Aviation Limited and Evergreen Apple Nigeria (EAN), hangars and offices.

    The new terminal was built with the $500 million loan from the Chinese Import Export Bank.

    Experts say property worth N20 billion may be lost to the relocation.

    Speaking during an inspection of the Lagos Airport, members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation called for caution in tackling the matter because of the huge losses and disruption the project will trigger.

    The development got worse at the weekend, as staff members of the  AIB, in its Lagos Office, were  ordered  to resume at the Bureau’s headquarters in Abuja by the Ministry of Aviation without relocation allowances.

    Sources said the Administrative Department of the bureau recently issued a memo to  the staff members of the bureau to resume in Abuja by yesterday. It warned that defaulters would be sanctioned.

    At the weekend, staff members of the bureau were seen outside the premises moving their belongings out. Some of them lamented that they were only given two days to comply with the directive.

    One of the staff members, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, wondered why the management would issue such a directive to the workers when relocation allowances had not been paid to them.

    He also decried that over 90 per cent of the workers were yet to collect January 2022 salaries and wondered where they would get the money to relocate.

    The source said: “We, on Wednesday, received a letter from the Administration Department, which directed us to move to Abuja without prior notice. We were given till Monday to relocate to Abuja even when we don’t have a befitting office there and nothing is being said about our accommodation. And as we stand, no one is talking about relocation allowances to the workers.

    “Even  in the civil service rule, you can’t compel staff to relocate without the payment of relocation allowances. Staff are using their personal resources to relocate government property to Abuja.”

    The General Secretary, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Comrade Ocheme Aba, who confirmed the relocation order, said: “Information I gathered is that some of the staff have been paid relocation allowances for some period, but refused to move to Abuja. As you are aware, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) last week sent a letter to the agency that they wanted to demolish the building for apron for the new terminal at the Lagos Airport.

    “Because of this, the management now said everyone should relocate to Abuja. Though they have not been given relocation allowances, the ministry promised that all their outstanding would be paid to them once they move.’’

    But, fresh  facts emerged at the weekend that the Fixed-Based Operators (FBO), including Executive Maintenance and Repair Organisation (MRO), Execujets and Caverton Helicopters will not erect any obstacle to the jet way for the new international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).

    Investigations show that FAAN and the Aviation ministry planned to relocate other hangars that hinder the expansion of the airside of the new terminal.

    Specifically, aviation authorities have issued relocation notices to organisations whose facilities will be demolished to enable the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) complete work on the terminal billed for inauguration before the end of March 2022.

    Industry experts say assets worth over N20 billion may be lost to the demolition.

    FAAN, it was learnt, is already reaching out to Evergreen Apple Nigeria, Dominion Aviation Limited and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB),whose facilities are slated for demolition.

    In an interview, one of the facility managers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Qiunts Aviation Services Limited, Mr Sam Iwuajoku, said the company’s hangar is not obstructing access to the new international terminal.

    He said: “The new terminal has nothing to do with Execujet, the safety envelope area where planes can move into the place is by Evergreen and Dominion. These are the two areas blocking the entrance to the jet way of the new terminal. It does not affect Caverton and Execujets.”

    Investigations show that the new terminal built in Lagos  by CCECC has not been put into use due to lack of maneuvering space and access for aircraft that would board and disembark passengers at the terminal.

    It was learnt that officials of the Ministry of Aviation and FAAN  had inspected the area and have started holding talks with the affected companies on how to relocate their operations to the new location.

    A source said: “What happened was that senior officials from the Ministry came some time ago to relocate Evergreen. When they came, they found a place where they are going to put Evergreen, they have given them land; it is just after the cargo terminal area. And they also gave Dominion  a place there. What they have to do is to disassemble what they have here and go and assemble them back there.

    “We have an airport facility that is ready but they are not using it because of those two hangars. It is not the fault of the hangar owners; it is the fault of the Minister at that time for not carrying FAAN engineers along in choosing a place where the new terminal would be built. They went and located that terminal at the wrong side of the airport.”

  • How to drive travel growth, by Skal chief

    How to drive travel growth, by Skal chief

    After a decade in limbo, players in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors have converged on Lagos to revive the interactive  forum – Skal International (Nigeria) – by resetting the blueprint expected to drive the growth and development of the industry. It was followed by the inauguration of their association.

    Speaking after the inauguration, National President, Skal Nigeria, Mr Daisi Olotu said the new team would work with relevant private and public organisations to develop a set of standards  that would offer tourists  excellent protection as consumers while travelling to various sites in the country.

    His words:  “We will be participating in as many international trade fairs as possible, fostering partnerships and presenting Skål International Nigeria as a global grganisation and a value proposition to prospective members as well as supporting in-country membership

    “Our priority will be to focus on supporting our collective passion for tourism through tourism-based events that would help increase membership as well as new clubs thereby making us a force to be reckoned with in the sector.”

    He solicited the support of every member of the club to work with him and his committee strategically to not only foster friendship and mutual understanding but to ensure that “we attain the highest values of result”.

    “I have often wondered what it is like to be the president of Skal International, Nigeria and what is expected of the office and I have come to a conclusion that a tree can never make a forest,” he said.

    He further stated that they all must continue their mutual support and remain focused and united in rebuilding the tourism sector for a better and more prosperous Nigeria.

    “Leadership is not about titles or power but taking responsibility for recognising and developing the potential in people and ideas,” he said.

    He expressed gratitude to the doyen of the travel industry, Mr. Femi Adefope, the past President of Skal International (Nigeria), who decorated him as the new President, describing him as his mentor and one of the members in the history of the club.

    paid tributes to Bimbo Durosinmi-Etti, the International Councillor Nigeria, Olukemi Soetan, Mallam Zackary Abdullahi, Rita Obidike, Raymond Ukaegbu, ‘Demola Sanya- the President of Skal Club Lagos, Juliana Tongerit, President of Skal Club Abuja, Tariboba, all members of the National Committee and Skalleagues nationwide.

    This administration he reiterated would be an all-inclusive one, adopting our motto “Doing Business Amongst Friends”.

    We will be open for advice and suggestions on how to place tourism in Nigeria and this great club on the world map. We are going to work like a closely knitted web, our focus will be to Rebuild Tourism in Nigeria, and our unanimous goal will be to promote Brand Nigeria”.