Category: Aviation

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to follow World Health Organisation (WHO) advice and immediately rescind travel bans that were introduced in response to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Public health organisations, including the WHO, also advised against travel curbs to contain the spread of Omicron.

WHO’s advice for international traffic concerning the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant states: “Blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread, and they place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods.

“In addition, they can adversely impact global health efforts during a pandemic by disincentivizing countries to report and share epidemiological and sequencing data.

“All countries should ensure that the measures are regularly reviewed and updated when new evidence becomes available on the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Omicron or any other variants of concern.”

WHO said implementing measures such as screening or quarantine “need to be defined following a thorough risk assessment process informed by the local epidemiology in departure and destination countries and by the health system and public health capacities in the countries of departure, transit and arrival.

“All measures should be commensurate with the risk, time-limited and applied with respect to travellers’ dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms, as outlined in the International Health Regulations.”

IATA Director-General Willie Walsh said: “After nearly two years with COVID-19, we know a lot about the virus and the inability of travel restrictions to control its spread.

“But the discovery of the Omicron variant induced instant amnesia on governments which implemented knee-jerk restrictions in complete contravention of advice from the WHO—the global expert.”

IATA urged governments to reconsider all Omicron measures.

“The goal is to move away from the uncoordinated, evidence-absent, risk-unassessed mess that travellers face.

“As governments agreed at ICAO and in line with the WHO advice, all measures should be time-bound and regularly reviewed.

“It is unacceptable that rushed decisions have created fear and uncertainty among travellers just as many are about to embark on year-end visits to family or hard-earned vacations,” said Walsh.

The rising incidence of unruly behaviour by passengers on board airplanes and attack on cabin attendants have drawn attention to the role of flight crews when flying thousands of feet above sea level. At a fair last week in Lagos, experts appraised evolving dynamics in cabin crew responsibilities. KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR reports.

The need for flight crew to collaborate to improve safety on board aircraft is gaining global attention as airlines, regulatory bodies and airport authorities evolve measures to arrest new threats to air travel.

Part of the new threats is the rising incidence of air rage leading to attacks on flight crew by belligerent passengers who exhibit unusual attitudes when they are on board an aircraft.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, disturbances and violent incidents on planes have been on the rise and flight attendants have had enough.

The rising incidents – and what some flight attendants described as a lack of accountability – has forced some to reconsider whether or not they want to remain in the industry.

In the United States, for instance, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA called on the government, airlines and airports to do more to reduce the number of such incidents.

So far, this year, airline crews have reported 4,385 incidents of unruly behaviour by passengers to the FAA, with nearly three out of four  mask-related.

The FAA plans to meet with airlines, airports and other industry players to share ideas on additional ways to curb the incidents.

Worried over the trend, operators met to examine emerging trends in the cabin crew profession.

The programm – Cabin Crew Fair 2021 ,  put together by MamaJ Aviation Consult,  with the theme : “The Evolving Cabin Crew Profession, Then and Now”, offered a window for the experts to examine new trends in flight crew responsibilities.

Speaking at the fair, its  convener, Ms. Joy Ogbebor, described cabin crew professionals as strategic resources in the air safety value chain as they help to improve safety on board the aircraft.

She said technology was playing an increasing role in the discharge of flight crew responsibilities.

Read Also: Air Peace boosts fleet with two A320

Ogbebor said the Coronavirus pandemic threw up fresh challenges requiring cabin attendants to alter their appearance, step up their game and other developments.

President, Association of Aircraft Owners and Pilots, Dr. Alex Nwuba, urged cabin attendants to adjust to challenges thrown up by technology, as technology through artificial intelligence would reduce the jobs of humans on board airplanes.

He said given such a scenario, the role of cabin attendants appears endangered as aircraft manufacturers were already toying with the idea of having robots on board to discharge cabin crew duties.

Significantly, Nwuba said cabin attendants still had a huge role to play as assurance managers when the aircraft flies into turbulence and unsettled air.

During such moments, Nwuba said cabin attendants serve as an interface between the airline and passengers, offering assurance to give passengers a good travel experience.

As the last line of defence for airlines, he charged cabin attendants to demonstrate empathy.

In his presentation, first President, National Cabin Crew Association of Nigeria (NACCAN), Mr. Olumide Ohunayo. said the association fought for many years to secure regulatory certification/licensing for its members.

He said before that feat was achieved in 2001, many cabin crew professionals were relegated in the industry.

Ohunayo urged cabin attendants to widen their contacts and diversify into other endeavours.

Chairman, NIGAV Centre and multi-modal transport consultant, Mr. Fortune Idu. urged cabin attendants to step up their role as the interface between the airline and passengers to enliven passengers’ travel experience.

He said besides boosting passenger satisfaction and security on board airplanes, cabin attendants must learn ways and means of handling unruly and violent passengers through their disposition.

He said : ” Cabin crew are a very important part of the passenger experience

Air Peace has taken delivery of two Airbus 320s to boost its domestic and regional operations

The two 162-seater aircraft, with 12 Business Class seats and 150 Economy seats each, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos last week.

Disclosing this to reporters, the spokesperson of Air Peace, Stanley Olisa, said: “The two A320s will be deployed to boost both domestic and regional connectivity for our esteemed passengers “.

He said the new A320s would help the airline in its drive to meet the growing travel demand in the Nigerian and larger West African markets while it expects to take delivery of more Embraer 195-E2 airplanes.

According to Olisa: “Air Peace is committed to reducing the air travel burden of Nigerians and these new airplanes are a testament to this commitment.”

The carrier had assured the flying public of ample flights as it would soon roll out schedules for the festive period with more aircraft returning from maintenance overseas  and a new Embraer 195-E2 jet.

To meet travel demand, Olisa said the carrier would deploy its wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft to meet the increased demand characteristic of the festive period.

Air Peace said it would be resuming its Dubai service via Sharjah on Wednesday.

This is consequent upon the Federal Government’s lifting of the ban on flights from and to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The airline informed  passengers  to comply with all established COVID-19 protocols governing international air travel and to cooperate with airport staff in this regard.

\The carrier also assured passengers  that it will roll out many flights to meet the usual surge in travel demand during Christmas and end-of-year celebrations.

The Spokesperson of the airline, Stanley Olisa said from  this week  it  will roll out more flights assuring passengers   about flight availability.

Air Peace , Olisa reaffirmed it will  be receiving some of its aircraft flown  overseas  for maintenance and a brand new Embraer 195-E2 jet to boost the  growing air travel demand.

“We are assuring the flying public that there will be ample flights as we shall be rolling out our schedules for the festive period very soon. More aircraft are coming in- both those on maintenance and a brand new Embraer 195-E2 jet. And we are also deploying our wide-body Boeing 777 to meet the increased demand”, Olisa affirmed.

He stressed that Air Peace is poised to reduce the air travel burden of Nigerians through the provision of peaceful and strategic connectivity, giving Nigerians multiple network options with an increasing modern fleet.

South African Tourism West Africa at the weekend clinched  big honours at the second edition of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) Eminent Person Awards in Abuja.

The company was adjudged the best in Intra-Africa Tourism Agency for its contributions towards encouraging, supporting and improving travel relationships between Nigeria and the Republic of South Africa.

Trade Relations Manager Mohammed Tanko, and Marketing and Communications Manager of South African Tourism, Atinuke Jose,  received the award.

NANTA President, Susan Akporiaye, lauded the company for  promoting mutual relationships between the two countries.

According to her, “because of this relationship a lot of South Africans have visited Nigeria and Nigerians  now see South Africa as a second home”.

In a video message by SAT West Africa, Regional Hub Head, Thekiso Rakolojane, added: “Team South Africa is committed to opening up conversation around various travels to South Africa in partnership with the travel trade to ensure transparency and better service delivery”.

After one year of inactivity, South African Airways (SAA) has concluded plans to resume the lucrative Johannesburg-Lagos route.

The carrier plans to re-start the service on December 12, this year.

The development, The Nation learnt,  has  brought relief to  the airline’s loyal customers who have been  connecting flights out of Lagos to Johannesburg and other destinations in Southern Africa.

The carrier’s addition of the Johannesburg-Lagos route is another important continental route to its network with thrice a week flight to Lagos in Nigeria.

SAA has been flying to Nigeria for the past 23 years and the resumption of the service is a welcome addition to its growing continental offering.

The interim Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways, Thomas Kgolo in a statement said : ”  This specific destination takes SAA into one of the biggest travel markets in Africa and we’re delighted that we are again able to resume operations, providing a link between Africa’s two biggest economies.”

Kgokolo said the service is part of SAA’s gradual growth strategy, having resumed full operations in September.

According to him, “Our intention is to continue to develop our route network driven by passenger demand and revenue potential. We are constantly evaluating opportunities, both locally, regionally, and internationally.”

He further stated that not only does the new Johannesburg Lagos route function as a key economic link between the two countries but would also service the burgeoning tourism market in both countries.

He disclosed the airline would continue in partnership with South African Tourism to promote the country in Nigeria in the expectation that it would lead to more visitors now that international pandemic travel restrictions are being revised.

South African Airways had on September 23rd, 2021 resumed operations after a year of inactivity and almost 18 months without a commercial flight.

The carrier initially offered flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Accra, Kinshasa, Harare, Lusaka, and Maputo.

SAA has not flown any commercial flights since March 2020 and ceased all cargo and repatriation flights in September last year.

Kgokolo said : ” After months of diligent work, we are delighted that SAA is resuming service and we look forward to welcoming on board our loyal passengers and flying the South African flag. We continue to be a safe carrier and adhere to COVID-19 protocols.”

Tickets went on sale on August 26th and have sold well, according to the airline. According to Kgokolo, early figures indicate flights may be up to 75 per cent  full. Opening up other routes may prove to be a complication due to ongoing travel restrictions.

Kgokolo added, “There is a profound feeling of enthusiasm within Team SAA as we prepare for takeoff, with one common purpose -to rebuild and sustain a profitable airline that once again takes a leadership role among local, continental, and international airlines.”

The airline hasn’t operated any commercial flights since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. From that period until September 2020, the airline maintained cargo and repatriation flights but was forced to cease all operations due to financial problems.

After spending a period of 17 months in administration, SAA finally exited ‘business rescue‘ in April 2021, before the South African government agreed to sell its majority stake to Takatso Consortium in June.

The quest for improved services for cargo/aircraft handling at airports in Nigeria has been hindered by inadequate facilities. To overcome the challenge, operators believe investment in modern equipment will trigger clients/airlines’ enthusiasm in the logistics value chain. KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR reports.

OperatorS are in a race against time to fill in the huge gaps that exist in the logistic intensive  cargo/ramp and aircraft handling business.

Over the years, they have been struggling to upgrade their equipment to meet up with clients’ demands as obtainable in other climes.

But, they had to contend with the outrageous cost of acquiring modern handling equipment, which prices have remained higher, no thanks to the depreciating value of the naira against the US dollars.

Besides, foreign exchange challenges, ground handling operators have been appealing to the Federal Government to grant customs duty waivers on acquisition of operational equipment.

But a new lease of life appeared on the horizon last week as one of the ground handling firms,  Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos inaugurated a new set of cargo handling facilities – Cool Dollies.

The facility, which   is the first of its kind in West Africa, is among other   multi-million naira Ground Support Equipment (GSE) the company inaugurated to enhance  its service delivery  to its clients. The equipment unveiled by SAHCO include Cool dollies, Pallet dollies, Pushbacks, Air Conditioning Units (ACUs), water and toilet bowsers.

The three Cool Dollies, according to the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Mr. Basil Agboarumi, could be described as mobile cold rooms manufactured by Bombelli, a renowned ground support equipment  manufacturer from Italy.

The facility, Agboarumi said, has the capacity of taking a pallet or two AKE container load of temperature sensitive shipment from the aircraft to the cold rooms or freezers in the warehouse.

He said the Cool Dollies are equipped with an automatic electric powered engine that is environmentally friendly, and are fitted with data loggers to catalogue the pressure and temperature level of the compartment to protect its contents.

Agboarumi  said: “The 45 tonnes Push Backs manufactured by Goldhofer, a German General support equipment  has  capacity of pushing back all wide body aircraft except an Airbus 380 aircraft It  is user friendly, and equipped with a tier  four  engine.”

Agboarumi said the new equipment would be added to its array of facilities at the airport, explaining that SAHCO believes in continuous enhancement of facilities and would continue to invest in modern equipment in a bid to satisfy its clients, especially the airlines who he described as a very important segment of its business.

He said: “SAHCO is doing this because we believe in adding values to the environment we operate in. Despite the economic challenge in Nigeria, we are doing this at this time. These Cool Dollies are the first of its type in Nigeria. It can be used for the movement of perishable cargo from cold rooms to airlines and vice versa.

“We also have the Pushbacks, which are the real money spinners, the Auxiliary Control Units, Water and toilet browsers were fabricated by our engineers here in Nigeria. These, we have done to help reduce the search for foreign exchange, which is always hard to come by. The world is going green and SAHCO as a company is also in compliance with carbon emission.

“These equipment were manufactured in Europe and it’s easier to deliver these to those in Europe without additional cost of shipping and clearing, but for us, we pay more for the same equipment as we need to pay for shipping and clearing of the equipment at our seaports.”

Also, the Assistant General Manager, Engineering and Maintenance, SAHCO,  Toyin Oriowo, said the equipment are carbon emission compliant, stating that their spare parts are available. He praised the management and Board of SAHCO for acquiring such equipment at this time, especially for the support of enabling his team to produce from local materials.

He emphasised that the three Toilet bowsers and two Water bowsers have  the capacity of servicing wide body aircraft, as a result of looking inwards due to the high cost and unavailability of forex that made his team come together to manufacture the ground  support equipment.”

 Equipment acquisition is gaining traction among indigenous carriers as they strategise for market dominance in the projected surge in year-end passenger traffic. Besides outwitting one another in the choice of aircraft type – narrow body versus wide body planes – operators are adopting the wet lease option to drive operational profitability, KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR reports

Nigerian carriers are adopting several options to drive down the cost of  their operations to achieve profitability.

The new move is part of the learning curve the COVID -19 pandemic has triggered in the industry where airlines’ managers are thinking out of the box to reduce  costs to enable their business remain afloat.

Though passengers are returning to the skies following an increase in the  number of vaccinated persons and measures put in place to spike confidence in air travel, competition is seeping into the strategic sector.

The choice of equipment and the method of acquisition are being deployed as a strategy to win passengers over the airlines.

While some carriers are acquiring brand new regional jets from some manufacturers in Southern America, other operators are consolidating on the  wet leasing option for fleet growth and modernisation.

In the last few months, Air Peace, Cally Air, Green Africa Airways, United Nigeria Airlines, Arik Air and fledging carrier NG Eagle Airlines have acquired aircraft to boost their operations.

Last week, Aero Contractors, Nigeria’s oldest aviation company, took delivery of two Airbus 320 from Heston airline based in Lithuania.

The two aircraft, which arrived Abuja,were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe  International Airport, Abuja by the Managing Director of the airline, Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood, along  other senior executives of the airline alongside former Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren and the helmsman,Capt Musa Nuhu.

The two aircraft leased by House of Five A’s, according to Capt Mahmood, would boost the fleet of the airline and provide the much needed capacity to  serve the local market.The aircraft, the pilot turned chief executive  said, is the first of its kind in the market.

He said: “We are pleased to secure these two aircraft through House of  Five A’s which will boost our fleet and give us the needed capacity in the  Nigerian market, while making us more efficient and offer more comfort to  our customers.

“These new generation aircraft are suitable for our operations in this market. We have established an excellent relationship with the lessors and  the financier and we are looking forward to a stronger relationship between  both parties.”

Mahmmod said the carrier was not only embracing the rave in the industry of  leveraging aircraft acquisition as a strategy to expand fleet, he described it as another measure designed to expand capacity  and improve on time  performance, a strategy many carriers consider the game changer.

He said: “This was part of the reason we recently wetleased  two Airbus  320 to drive our operations. We want to build the capacity of our fleet and  give more comfort to our passengers with the ambience of freshly looking  cabins. With these additions, we have grown our fleet to six airplanes from  four.”

Fleet growth, Mahmood said, is gaining traction among airlines affirming  that the new move by Aero Contractors was a step in the right direction.

He said: “Absolutely, the increase in fleet size will help boost our market share in addition to helping us serve more destinations while giving our customers more seats. With these two aircraft our fleet size  has increased to six airplanes.”

In the last few months, many passengers have been complaining about flight  delays and cancellation due to insufficient aircraft by airlines.

Confirming the development, Mahmood said the additional aircraft would assist to resolve operational challenges related to small fleets.

He said: “The additional aircraft will surely help us as a company address  this issue.This has been a challenge for us but, we are confident that out  on time performance will receive a boost from now. It will give us an  opportunity to add capacity.”

Demuren said Nigerian carriers were getting it right by acquiring the suitable equipment for domestic operations.

He said equipment choice and route planning as well as on-time performance  were key determinants in the growth trajectory of any carrier.

Capt Nuhu said Nigerian carriers were coming to terms with the reality by using suitable equipment that would boost their profitability.

He praised Nigerian airlines for not only acquiring new aircraft but getting the right aircraft type for flight operations.

He described the aircraft types being acquired by the airlines as environmentally friendly with low maintenance and operational cost, saying  the development gladdened his heart.

A strategist/analyst, Dr Alex Nwuba,  described the acquisition of two Airbus 320 by Aero Contractors as historic.

The National President, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Abednigo Galadima, commended the airline for the feat.

It would be recalled that Aero Contractors is in receivership by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). Capt Mahmood was appointed Managing Director of Aero Contractors in January, this year  to build on the success of his predecessor Capt Ado Sanusi.

In nine months, he has strengthened the airline, expanding the frontiers of  the Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) arm of the company and increasing its  capacity to maintain more aircraft.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), Prof. Mansur Matazu, has explained why the agency is focusing on infrastructure upgrade. He said such a move would help it to serve its clients better.

Matazu, who stated this in an interview at the weekend, said the agency would continue to upscale its equipmen to deliver on its core mandate.

He said the agency was ready to offer more than weather forecasts and live up to its strategic role in growing the economy with precise-based advisory services.

Thus, according to him, weather monitoring and observation infrastructure have been upgraded.

Matazu stated that though the impact of the agency was more noticeable in the sector through its ability to monitor, plan and predict climate change to prevent air crashes, it wants to be known for stating the impact of any weather condition on lives.

This, according to him, is the human face of NiMET forecasts.

It wants to move from making a forecast on whether there would be rain or heat, to the impact the amount of rain or the heatwave on  health.

Matazu said this would be sent to the people in their various states and local governments in their various languages for effective communication.

He said this coud be achieved through regular staff training.

Though four months in the saddle, with over seven year-experience in various directorates of the agency, he said the only way to make the staff members more comfortable, improve their productivity and service delivery as well as rejig the agency to meet modern demands caused by the global attention on climate change, is the improvement in staff welfare packages and capacity.

To make this possible, he said a percentage of their budget had been dedicated to staff training.

The Minister of Aviation, Captain Hadi Sirika recently commended the weather agency for installing low level wind shear alert system at airports nationwide.

According to Sirika, the calibration of such critical facilities at airports will improve flight safety and enable pilots detect conditions that are harmful for aircraft either landing or taking off at the runway.

He said such facilities besides improving flying would give adequate warning about wind speed and direction.

According to the minister, warnings by NiMET help the aviation ministry and other sectors of the economy prepare for unexpected challenges, which have ensured the safety of lives and properties, and investments, specifically in agriculture.

Matazu said NIMET had installed six Doppler weather radar at Abuja, Port Harcourt, Yola, Maiduguri, Kano and Lagos Airports.

The agency had stepped up its equipment profile with the installation of four air quality and ozone layer monitoring stations at Abuja, Lagos, Enugu and Kano with synoptic and automatic weather stations spread across the country.

Additional instrument calibration laboratory was installed at  Abuja as well as eight upper air stations at Abuja, Enugu, Lagos, Kano, Maiduguri, Jos, Calabar and Yola.

Matazu said: “One thing with Doppler weather radar is that it monitors fast-moving weather systems. Doppler radar enhances our charting of extreme events, especially around airports and one of such radars covers 400 km sphere.”

“By the time you have six, you will see beyond all Nigeria. You know weather has no boundaries and with this, you are able to monitor and chart weather systems.The installations have the components where our engineers are getting trained, especially in order to man it, and also our forecasters that are utilizing the radar. It is a very important project and we are not implementing it in a hurry. You have to make sure you get it right.”

He said : “A very critical component is the aeronautical meteorological forecast which we provide to the aviation industry. The whole aviation depends on weather forecast for operation especially the act of flying, if weather is good, you get smooth flight and if the weather is bad, you have a bumpy flight and the accuracy of our forecast is more than 90 per cent.

“We provide update of our forecast as it affects the industry especially aviation.Whenever there is a significant weather change like the beginning of the raining season that is associated with thunder storms and other stormy weather, we pass that along.  We provide forecast for wind-shear which is the highest risk factor with regards to aircraft operation so we have low lever wind-shear alert system around the airports in other to inform the pilot through air traffic controllers.”

Last month, Earth Networks, a global provider of weather intelligence, announced on Wednesday it formed a partnership with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet). The agreement includes a five-year collaboration to build the Nigeria Total Lightning and Mesoscale AWS Network (NTLMAN) for early warning of severe weather. The partnership was commemorated during a live virtual Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony from Abuja and Germantown, Maryland.

Under the agreement, Earth Networks and NiMet will deploy and operate a comprehensive early warning lightning detection network in Nigeria and jointly co-market new sources of weather and lightning data to public and private industries in Nigeria. Precision weather stations and lightning sensors will be hosted at NiMet locations and maintained by NiMet staff. In addition to the network equipment, Earth Networks will also provide training and development for NiMet staff regarding use of comprehensive weather data, including real-time and historical lightning data, weather observations, sensor forecasts and live storm-tracking and alerting.

This new agreement with NiMet supports Earth Networks’ commitment to build sustainable public-private weather information services partnerships with countries around the globe. Government agencies and private enterprises in Nigeria alike will now have access to a complete suite of visualization, forecasting, storm identification, alerting, and tracking services, developed and offered jointly by NiMet and Earth Networks. This cooperation means any industry affected by weather in Nigeria, including aviation, oil and gas, mining, and manufacturing, can now take advantage of the most technologically advanced severe weather alerts and data to promote safety and ease operational challenges caused by weather.

“We’ve been working in more than 25 countries in Africa since 2013 to save lives and protect property with high-resolution weather and lightning data,” said Jim Anderson, Vice President of Global Sales at Advanced Environmental Monitoring, Earth Networks’ parent company. “We are excited to partner with NiMet to help accelerate the expansion of their high impact weather forecasting capacity and bring new weather warning services to enterprise customers in Nigeria.”

In his remarks at the virtual MOU signing ceremony, U.S. Embassy Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Officer Adam Jagelski said the partnership between Earth Networks and NiMet will help expand Nigeria’s capacity to accurately provide critical weather forecasting information and climate services, supporting Nigeria’s economic development by protecting the lives and property that are critical to several key sectors.

“The signing of this MOU is exemplary of the mutually beneficial partnership model U.S. businesses can employ to engage the Nigerian market,” Jagelski said. “I am thrilled to see Earth Networks using the partnership model to bring the expertise of one of America’s truly innovative companies to the strategic infrastructure sector in Nigeria.  We hope to see more of America’s premier companies developing partnerships as a means to bring their best-in-class products and services to Nigeria and the whole of Africa.”

Barring any hitch, operators in the industry would begin the implementation of the new ground handling rates approved for them by the Federal Government. The reviewed rates would become effective October 1, 2021 for foreign carriers and January 1, 2022 for indigenous carriers. Operators have described the new rates as a paradigm shift coming 36 years after previous rates were introduced.To consolidate the gains of the new directive, experts have canvassed a raft of measures including – stricter regulations and the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), among operators to drive its compliance as well as stipulate disciplinary measures for violators, writes KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR

The drive for air safety and security received a boost at the weekend as the Federal Government approved new ground handling charges for companies involved in passenger aircraft and cargo handling.

The new rates conveyed to the affected operators: airlines, airport authorities and ground handling companies including -Skyways Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc, Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc, Precision Aviation Handling Company Limited (PAHCOL) and Swiss port handling, in a circular by the industry regulator, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The new rates according to the NCAA will become effective October 1, 2021 for foreign carriers while January 1, 2022 has been set as commencement date for indigenous carriers.

A document obtained by The Nation indicated that NCAA has approved between $1,500 and $5,000 for passenger and cargo flights for handlers for narrow and wide body aircraft operated by foreign carriers. Domestic carriers are expected to pay between N25, 000 and N70, 000 respectively, depending on the type of aircraft operated.

Under the previous arrangement foreign carriers were charged a paltry $400 for their aircraft whereas domestic carriers were charged N20, 000.

Narrow body aircraft include Boeing B737, Airbus A320, ER 135 and ATR, while wide body aircraft are B767, A330, B777, B747 and B787.

Conveying the approval in a circular signed by its Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu and dated September 6, 2021 with the reference number:  NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/315, the NCAA informed airlines and ground handling as well as their accountable managers of the new rates and dates of commencement.

The circular reads in part: “All stakeholders are invited to note that the new ground handling rates for international and domestic operations will become effective on 1st October, 2021 and 1st January, 2022, respectively.

“All stakeholders are directed to ensure full compliance with the safety threshold ground handling charges. Any change to these charges must be done in formal consultation with and approval of NCAA. Please be guided accordingly.”

The development is described by industry watchers as a paradigm shift for the sector, which came after 35 years when it was   last amended by the Federal Government. Specifically, handling rates were last amended in 1986.

With this approval, NAHCO SAHCO, PAHCOL and Swiss port Handling Company, can now charge the same handling rates as their counterparts in the sub- Saharan African countries.

Speaking in an interview, Chairman of umbrella body of indigenous operators: Association of Ground Handling Companies of Nigeria (AGHAN), Mr Olaniyi Adigun commended the Ministry of Aviation for the bold step aimed at saving ground handling companies from extinction.

He said the move was not only timely but necessary as the low rates charged by ground handling firms were pushing on the precipice.

Adigun said the fluctuations in exchange rate was adversely affecting the companies, who had to procure operational equipment, train their technical personnel and undergo certification all transacted in foreign currencies.

He said: “We want to appreciate the Minister of Aviation for having the foresight to come to the rescue of the ground handling companies.

“In fact, the federal government saved us from extinction because the low pricing was gradually killing the ground handling sub-sector. Income derived from our operations could not sustain us vies à-vis the current reality on ground. Dollars have gone up and this equipment is purchased in foreign currencies.

“With the right pricing in handling rates, we will be able to provide quality, efficient and safe service delivery to our clients. We would be able to compete with any service provider gradually and we will be able to acquire modern equipment that can facilitate handling. To me, it’s a new dawn and a new development that will inject more lives into the industry.

“Before the new regime, an operation that cost $4,000 elsewhere, we were doing it at $400.

“With the old regime, government was losing money, the service provider was losing money and with this, we could not attract quality staff, carry out efficient training. But, right now, we are on the right track.”

“AGHAN is thanking the minister for saving the sector from extinction.”

On how to ensure compliance, Adigun said:” The circular from the government is a directive to all operators, including the handling companies.

There are procedures for you to operate and charge whatever you intend to charge. Again, NCAA expected everyone to be guided accordingly.

AGHAN is coming out with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which will stipulate disciplinary measures for violators of the directive. No one wants to be the odd one out. Also, what will you gain for charging below the approved safety threshold handling charges? You can go above, but you cannot go below the rates approved.’

Also speaking in an interview, Vice Chairman of AGHAN, Mr Ahmed Basher lauded stakeholders and the companies for the advocacy mounted to achieve the review in charges.

He said:” We want to thank the managements of the ground handling companies who supported and trusted us to be able to go this far. Also, we want to laud the various critical stakeholders and professionals in the industry who actually craved for this safety threshold handling charges. For every project you want to embark upon, you need to get the strategy right.

“Also, we commend the regulator, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for reviewing the current safety threshold handling rates and ensure compliance with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and other bodies.

“We will like to thank NCAA for their leadership, which supported and encouraged and supported us. Their leadership actually ensured that economic regulation is about the ground handling companies. So, we have to be financially stronger to be able to recruit and retain quality manpower. The sub-sector is about the manpower and equipment.

“You cannot buy modern equipment if you are financially weak, you cannot attract and retain quality manpower if you are economically weak. So, the economic regulation is to ensure that we have a healthy and a vibrant industry.”