The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lufthansa

  • Lufthansa, Royal Air Maroc renew NAHCO’s deals

    Lufthansa, Royal Air Maroc renew NAHCO’s deals

    Two of world’s leading airlines, Lufthansa and Royal Air Maroc, have renewed their ground handling contracts with the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc, West Africa’s largest ground handling service provider.

    The contracts, which will run for five years, will see NAHCO providing ground handling services to the two global airlines in Nigeria.

    The contract with Lufthansa, a leading European carrier, will run from May 01, 2024, through April 30, 2029.

    The contract with Royal Air Maroc is a comprehensive one; for both Lagos and Abuja destinations. The Royal Air Maroc – LOS will run for five years from May 01, 2024, through April 30, 2029. For the Abuja contract, a new location for the Airline, the contract runs from May 01, 2024, through April 30, 2029 as well.

    Group Executive Director, Commercial and Business Development, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc, Prince Saheed Lasisi, said the new contracts were coming at a time when NAHCO is massively increasing its capacity with the recent purchase of new ground support equipment.

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    “Lufthansa and Royal Air Maroc have made the right decision in staying with NAHCO, evidently the largest handling provider in the country. We just took delivery of billions of naira worth of equipment which would be deployed to service these valued partners. It is a thrilling development,” Lasisi said.

    Group Managing Director, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc, Mr. Indranil Gupta said the new contracts were great partnerships at work.

    He assured the airlines of exceptional service delivery noting that NAHCO has been doing a lot in the area of manpower development and equipment purchase in order to be able to give incomparable service.

    “We are always happy to serve clients who depend on us to further grow their businesses. We will always go the extra mile to ensure that we support them to keep their promises to their clients to offer the best service,” Gupta said.

    He pointed out that the company recently announced the deployment of several new equipment to some of its stations. The deployed equipment comprised several units of pushbacks, ground power units, aircraft cooling units, aircraft air start units, tractors, reach trucks, forklifts, cargo and baggage carts, and pallet dollies.

    According to him, the deployment would be the first in a series of massive equipment replacement embarked upon by the company which has set for itself an ambitious target of excess ground support equipment in two years.

  • Lufthansa divests from NAHCO as new major investor increases stake

    Lufthansa Commercial Holding GmbH, a major foreign investor in Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc, has divested its entire equity stake in the Nigerian ground handling company. The divestment came barely six months after a new major investor, Godsmart Nigeria Limited, took over the company.

    In a regulatory filing yesterday, NAHCO confirmed that Lufthansa has transferred its entire equity stake of 97.45 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each or 6.0 per cent equity stake to Godsmart, which had in July 2018 launched itself with the acquisition of 16.7 per cent to become the single largest shareholder in NAHCO.

    With the Lufthansa’s deal, Godsmart now holds 26.95 per cent, strengthening its position as the single largest shareholder.  Godsmart had in July 2018 purchased 16.7 per cent equity stake in the company through acquisition of shares from some divesting shareholders through the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

    Consequent upon the consummation of the transaction, the directors representing the divesting shareholders tendered their resignation from the board while the new investor nominated two new non-executive directors.

    One of the companies privatised by the Federal Government, NAHCO however has a large retail shareholders base of more than 80,000 shareholders.

    Mr Idris Yakubu, who had taken over as the managing director of NAHCO in November 2017 recently resigned his appointment. Yakubu had led NAHCO to its most impressive performance in recent period with third quarter results showing a double in the bottom-line.

    Key extracts of the interim report and accounts of NAHCO for the period ended September 30, 2018 showed that profit before tax doubled by 107 per cent to N731.8 million in third quarter 2018 as against N336 million recorded during the comparable period of 2017. Profit after tax also increased by 110 per cent from N287.4 million to N601.3 million. The company’s turnover had risen by 25 per cent to N7.25 billion.

    NAHCO, a diversified group with interests in aviation cargo, aircraft handling, passenger facilitation, crew transportation and aviation training, currently serves more than 35 airlines at 11 airports across Nigeria, with plans to expand operations to other African countries. It handles about 70 per cent of domestic and foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.

    Incorporated on December 6, 1979 as an aviation servicing company, NAHCO started operations in April 1979 with the commissioning of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The Federal Government of Nigeria, through Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), initially held 60 per cent equity interest in the company while four foreign airlines – Air France, British Airways, Sabena and Lufthansa – shared the remaining 40 per cent in various ratios. In 2005, NAHCO was privatized and subsequently listed on the NSE in 2006.

     

  • Lufthansa appoints first Nigerian GM Sales

    Lufthansa Group has appointed Mrs. Adenike Macaulay as its General Manager, Sales, Nigeria & Equatorial Guinea.

    By her appointment, Mrs. Macaulay becomes the first female and Nigerian to hold the position.

    She will be responsible for all the commercial and sales activities of the Lufthansa Group Airlines in Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea,

    Macaulay started her career at Lufthansa in 2009 as a business analyst for West Africa, responsible for regional results analysis, market and ad-hoc reporting, competitor monitoring and sales planning.

    In 2010, she took over the leadership of the team as Regional Marketing Manager, directing marketing activities as well as business analysis, pricing and sales support across seven regions in West & Central Africa.

    Five years later, Mrs. Macaulay assumed the position of Senior Manager, Customer, Products and Marketing for Sub-Sahara Africa, directing customer relations, product management and marketing activities across Sub-Sahara Africa.

    In 2017, her position transitioned into Head Sales, Products and Programmes, where she was responsible for the development and optimization of sales products, B2B incentive programmes, sales promotions and sales service processes, across the Sub-Sahara Africa region.

    “I look forward to a co-operative relationship with our trade partners and continuing the good work of my predecessor in serving our esteemed passengers,” Macaulay said.

    The Lufthansa Group offers 15 weekly flights from Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt via Frankfurt to over 200 destinations in Europe, USA, Canada and beyond.

  • Lufthansa partners UNILAG for Youth Impact Week

    Two hundred students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) are to undergo six days of coaching with international trainers courtesy of Lufthansa Group and Help Alliance.

    Lufthansa is bringing its internationally-acclaimed Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project, ‘Impact Week 2017’, to Nigeria between October 20 and 26.

    During the programme, the participants will learn to develop sustainable business models using various innovation techniques like the innovative ‘Design Thinking’.

    They would be expected to come up with innovative solutions in agriculture, healthcare, education, alternative power generation, information technology transportation, and business management.

    The university would be responsible for the selection of the participating students from a variety of faculties. The course will also empower lecturers.

    “We are excited to have a team of UNILAG professionals, Lufthansa international staff and other experts to come together with about around 200 students to develop their skills, broaden and take on the tasks of thinking about solutions for socio-economic challenges right here”, Robin Sohdi, Lufthansa General Manager, Nigeria, said.

    Dr. Sunday Adebisi, Director, Entrepreneurship Centre, UNILAG, said the institution was happy to partner Lufthansa on the programme.

    “It is exciting to have the Impact Week in Nigeria and more importantly in University of Lagos to support a life changing experience for our teachers and students by Lufthansa Germany Airlines,” he said.

  • Lufthansa Nigeria celebrates the Oktoberfest

    Lufthansa Nigeria celebrates the Oktoberfest

    Lufthansa German Airlines has announced several activities for the world’s largest beer festival that started in Munich, Germany.

    In a statement on Thursday, the company noted that Nigeria is right on top in Africa on beer related matters with 12.28 liters per year, leading the top 10 biggest beer consuming countries in Africa.

    “So no doubt that the world’s most popular beer festival – the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany – creates also some excitement in Nigeria every year as each year numerous visitors from Nigeria are seen at the Oktoberfest,” it said.

    As a tradition for Lufthansa German Airlines, during the Oktoberfest, the Lufthansa Trachtencrew will once again be flying Bavarian tradition around the world.

    “On September 25, the Trachtencrew, dressed in traditional Bavarian costume, will fly to New York with LH 410, and on October 1, they fly on to San Francisco with flight LH 458. Already middle of this month, September 15, twelve female flight attendants and two male flight attendants landed in Seoul on-board the LH 718, where they were greeted enthusiastically.

    “This year’s costume has been designed and tailor-made by Munich Tracht specialist Angermaier. The Wiesn dirndl of the female flight attendants is dark blue with a silver-grey apron, and the gentlemen will wear a short pair of Lederhosen with a dark-blue waistcoat in the same fabric as the dirndls. Angermaier has now outfitted the crews in the spirit of the world’s largest fair for the third time in a row.

    “As in previous years, there will also be Tracht flights to selected European destinations from Munich. At the beginning and end of the Munich Oktoberfest, one crew from the Lufthansa CityLine will exchange their uniforms for a dirndl. This year’s destinations include Dresden, Amsterdam, Bastia, Prague, Timisoara, Münster/Osnabrück, Belgrade, Warsaw and Brussels.

    “Flying Lufthansa, passengers from Nigeria, of course, arrive at the Frankfurt hub. However, during the Oktoberfest it is more than ever worth continuing to Lufthansa’s second hub in Munich as it has been a tradition for several years for the Lufthansa staff in passenger service at Terminal 2 in Munich to welcome guests wearing traditional costume. In addition to the Lufthansa uniform, the ladies will be wearing Lufthansa dirndl in yellow and blue, and the gentlemen will wear blue Tracht suits. The service staff in the Lufthansa First Class Lounges will wear a Tracht in gold and black.

  • Nigerians to enjoy internet on Lufthansa flights

    Lufthansa Airlines and Austrian Airlines will offer high-speed internet on many of their short and medium-haul flights.

    Passengers have choice among three service packages at three, seven or twelve euro.

    This means a seamless internet connectivity from the long-haul flights like from Nigeria that have been equipped with this  technology for a while now.

    Internet access will be available on Eurowings flights in a few weeks’ time. Up till now, 19 Lufthansa A320 family fleet aircraft, as well 31 Austrian Airlines and 29 Eurowings aircraft have been fitted with the necessary Wifi technology and satellite antennae for this service. Additional ones are in the process of being equipped.

    This new high-speed technology has been successfully tested in the past months on both Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines flights.

    The internet access works simply via Wifi using the passengers’ own mobile devices. The offers range from messaging services through surfing the net and even to video streaming.

    Customers can choose from one of three service packages. On Lufthansa flights, they comprise FlyNet Message for three euro FlyNet Surf for seven euro and FlyNet Stream for twelve euro per flight.

    Austrian Airlines will offer the same services at the same prices  under the names my Austrian FlyNet Message, my Austrian FlyNet Surf and myAustrian FlyNet Stream. Passengers can either pay via credit card or payment services such as

    PayPal. Soon it will also be possible to make purchases by using Air Miles or via roaming partners.

    The internet provision of the Lufthansa Group airlines and their technology partner Inmarsat uses the most advanced broadband satellite technology (Ka-Band) and offers seamless and reliable coverage on short- and medium-haul flights via the Inmarsat network Global Xpress (GX). The internet service provider and partner of Inmarsat is Deutsche Telekom. Lufthansa Technik is responsible for fitting the systems and components, as well as dealing with the required aviation regulations and other statutory authorizations.

    They are currently equipping the entire Airbus A320 family fleet of Lufthansa Group Airlines  Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and Eurowings. Lufthansa Systems is providing the necessary technical infrastructure for internet connection on board. This includes the network operation in the aircraft  the technical prerequisite for Wifi on board  as well as the provision of the required software for the operation of each airline’s respective internet portal, through which the passenger gains access to the net.

  • Lufthansa gets new vice-president

    Lufthansa gets new vice-president

    Lufthansa group has appointed Dr. Stefan Kreuzpaintner as  Vice-President, Sales EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), Lufthansa Group Airlines.

    In this position, Mr. Kreuzpaintner will be responsible for all sales and commercial activities in the EMEA region, including Nigeria – altogether comprising 74 markets in Europe (except for the airlines’ home markets, Austria, Germany and Switzerland), the Middle East as well as Africa.

    He will be based in Frankfurt and manage the recently merged areas of Europe and Middle East/Africa for the group’s premium airlines, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS.

    Furthermore, Kreuzpaintner and his entire sales team will represent Brussels Airlines in many markets as well as support the sales activities of Eurowings.

    In his function,  Kreuzpaintner reports to his predecessor, Heike Birlenbach, Senior Vice-President, Sales Lufthansa Hub Airlines and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Hub Frankfurt.

    Birlenbach : ”With Stefan Kreuzpaintner, we appointed an airline manager with vast experience within the Lufthansa Group, including Network Planning, Revenue Management, Distribution and Sales.

    With his qualification and dedication, we will further strengthen our premium customer approach in these key markets.

    Kreuzpainter’s close ties to our strong airline brands Austrian, Lufthansa and SWISS clearly support our commercial strategy to increase the customers’ choice and flexibility within our airline group in the future.”

  • Lufthansa goes online on short-haul, mid-range flights

    Passengers on Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines  could send emails from a height of 10,000 meters and also shop online while flying, stream videos above the clouds – and all of that with broadband quality.

    These are innovations about to be introduced on the two airlines. Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines will be able to go online on shorter journeys too – as they have already been able to do for some time on long haul flights like on the Nigerian routes.

    “This great news means that passengers from Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt can connect seamlessly to the internet while traveling to any destination in Europe, Middle East and Northern Africa”, said Mr Robin Sohdi, Lufthansa country manager in Nigeria.

    Last summer, Lufthansa received the so-called Supplemental Type Certificate for the Airbus fleet A320 from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and successfully concluded all the necessary preparation work. Now the next stage of testing on Lufthansa and Austrian routes will start, initially involving five aircraft in each case. Passengers who fly on these aircraft will be offered free Internet use during this test phase. The analysis of the user behaviour will provide the data necessary to further enhance the service ahead of its market launch.

    Harry Hohmeister, member of the Board of Directors of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and responsible for Hub Management, said: “I am pleased that we can soon offer broadband Internet to our passengers on inner-European flights, giving them the chance to have a seamless digital experience. Since the launch of Lufthansa Flynet, it has been our goal to offer added value on board to our customers through innovation – and that also includes our Internet provision”.

    In the first quarter of 2017, the number of Lufthansa aircraft fitted out with Internet access will rise to around 20. One by one, the entire Lufthansa A320 fleet is to be equipped with the latest advanced technology by the middle of 2018.

  • Lufthansa cancels 912 flights as pilots strike enters Day 2

    The strike by Lufthansa pilots in support of a pay demand is in its second day on Thursday, with the German flagship carrier cancelling 912 flights for the day.

    The strike has hit the travel plans of some 100,000 long-and short-haul passengers.

    The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) Pilots’ Union announced that the strike, the 14th in a dispute stretching back to April 2014 would be extended to a third day on Friday, from the two originally planned.

    The stoppage, aimed at pressing demands for a backdated pay increase of 22 per cent over the five years to April 2017, grounded 876 flights on Wednesday.

    In total, 215,000 passengers have been affected over the first two days.

    Report says the Friday action is likely to hit primarily short-haul flights taking off within Germany.

    The company said it planned to service all its long-haul destinations on Friday.

    Airports across Germany were noticeably quieter than usual, with Munich badly hit as well as the main hub near Frankfurt.

    Group human relations head Bettina Volkens repeated a call for the union to enter into arbitration with Europe’s largest airline.

    However VC spokesman Joerg Handwerg rejected arbitration, saying pilots had been “uncoupled from changes in pay in Germany for the past five years” and that they were no longer prepared to be left on the sidelines.

    Chaos was avoided by many Lufthansa passengers simply staying away from airports.

    The company was providing ongoing information on its website and arranging alternatives for stranded passengers

  • Lufthansa strike leaves passengers stranded

    Lufthansa strike leaves passengers stranded

    Hundreds of Nigerian passengers were yesterday  stranded at airports in Lagos, Abuja  and Port Harcourt  as pilots of German carrier,  Lufthansa Airlines embarked on a strike over pay rise.

    The strike will affect over 100,000 passengers on its global network.

    The airline is expected to lose between $7.4 million and $ 9.6 million per day .

    The action  will affect flights departing from German airports, including 51 long-haul  scheduled flights.

    Flights  by Lufthansa‘s other airlines, including Germanwings, Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, SWISS and Brussels Airlines, will not be affected.