The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Port Harcourt airport

  • ‘No plan to operate UAE flights from Port Harcourt Airport ‘

    Air Peace said  it is not planning to originate its flights to Sharjah and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    A statement signed by the carrier’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah, said it had not altered its plan to commence its Sharjah and Dubai services from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The Lagos airport, the airline insisted, was strategic to the launch of its international flight operations.

    Air Peace assured that arrangements for its long-haul flight services to Dubai, Sharjah, London, Houston, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg were nearing conclusion and the development would eventually give all parts of the country and West Africa a reliable alternative.

    “Our attention has been drawn to reports in the media claiming we planned to operate our flights to Sharjah and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from Port Harcourt, Rivers State. We wish to state that there is no truth in the reports and we urge members of the flying public to discountenance the claims.

    “Our plan to operate our Sharjah and Dubai services from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos remains unchanged. Our strategic plan is to commence our international flight operations from Lagos, with Sharjah and Dubai preceding other routes.

    “As we have variously promised, we will eventually expand our international operations to cover other cities and regions of Nigeria and even the West Coast of Africa. The goal ultimately is to leverage our broad domestic and regional route network in offering the flying public a reliable alternative. This will be clearer as our long-haul route network unfolds . But we envisage that the base of our international operations will remain the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, while mini-hubs will be created in the North, East and South of Nigeria and West Africa. “

  • Buhari to open Port Harcourt airport

    President Muhammadu Buhari is expected today in Rivers State to inaugurate the reconstructed Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

    The President will be visiting Rivers State for the first time since his inauguration on May 29, 2015.

  • Senator urges contractor to complete Port Harcourt airport

    The lawmaker representing Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator Andrew Uchendu, has urged the contractor handling the remodelling of the domestic terminal of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State, to accelerate the pace of work.

    He made the call in Port Harcourt, during a visit to the airport to inspect ongoing projects and state of the facilities.

    Uchendu said: ”I am impressed by the level of construction work at the new Port Harcourt International Airport terminal. I must give kudos to the Minister for Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and his team, for a job well done.

    “I am, however, not impressed by the slow pace of the contractor handling the remodelling of the domestic terminal of the airport. Hence, I am demanding acceleration of work.

    “The reconstruction of the local wing of the airport was awarded when I was a member of the House of Representatives. It is unfortunate that since then, the project has not been completed. As the senator representing the area where this airport is domiciled, I am concerned. That is why I came to assess things by myself.

    “Nigerians and Rivers people are not happy with the progress of work being done at the airport. It is in the interest of everybody to ensure that the work is completed and very soon too.

    “As the Senator representing this senatorial district, I will try and reach out to the authorities in charge to find out what the problems are. If it is a problem of funding or a budget-related issue, then there are certain things that some of us can do. So that by October or November, the local wing can be completed. If the problem is from the contractor, then I will report him to the Minister for Transportation and his team. So that they can take necessary action that will accelerate the pace of work. All we want is progress.”

    The representative of Rivers East senatorial district also decried the very poor record, in terms of employment in the airport of members of the host communities.

    He said: “I am not satisfied with what has been done to the host communities (of the airport), in terms of employment. If since 1975, Omagwa and Ipo communities can boast of only one senior staff member in the employ of the airport, and then it is indeed a very poor record.

    “We must change the narrative. We must see to it that improvements are made. My people must be represented at all levels. The Federal Government’s policy on catchment area must be complied with fully.”

    Uchendu also stated that as part of its corporate social responsibility, the management of the Port Harcourt International Airport should provide town halls and markets for the host communities, as well as power supply by connecting them to the national grid.

  • Dana Air: Stranded passengers yet to retrieve luggage from damaged aircraft

    Dana Air: Stranded passengers yet to retrieve luggage from damaged aircraft

    The 49 passengers of the Dana Air plane that on Tuesday night skidded off the runway, while landing at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Rivers State are yet to retrieve their luggage from the damaged aircraft, almost 24 hours after the incident.

    The displeased passengers, as at press time Wednesday, were not sure of when their luggage, still inside the aircraft, would be released to them, to conclude the one hour journey they started from Abuja on Tuesday evening.

    It was also gathered at the airport that a team of experienced investigators and experts from Dana’s headquarters in Lagos arrived Port Harcourt yesterday morning and had been busy at the airport to ascertain what went wrong and the extent of damage to the plane, thereby ensuring thorough investigation.

    Officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Dana’s investigators at Port Harcourt airport did not allow reporters to join the team or move close to the scene of the incident.

    A female passenger, who spoke with our reporter, but pleaded not to be named, said: “I did not know what happened along the line, as the plane suddenly skidded off the runway. Everybody was just shouting and praying, before the aircraft finally stopped.

    “There was nobody to direct us or show us where to go. Everybody was just running helter, shelter. No medical service. We are here (at Port Harcourt International Airport) to get our luggage, but they said the manager is still at the incident’s scene.”

    An elderly male passenger, who also spoke with our reporter, but would not want his name in print, said: “We have been here (airport) as early as 8 a.m. today (Wednesday) to get our luggage, but they are not giving it to us.

    “As I speak with you, members of my family are not even aware of what is happening to me, because my phones are inside my bag in the plane.”

    None of the officials of Dana, a fully private-sector-owned carrier, which commenced flight operations on November 10, 2008 and FAAN at the airport was ready to speak with our reporter, even anonymously, on the flight number 9J0363, what went wrong and the extent of damage to the aircraft.

    The plane skidded off the runway, because of sudden heavy rain, which was accompanied by strong wind and storm, while FAAN officials, on Tuesday night, evacuated the passengers and crew members, without any casualty.

    FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, stated that the aircraft overshot the runway, while Dana’s Corporate Communications Manager, Kingsley Ezenwa Okwudili, noted that bad weather and torrential rain at the time of landing, was responsible for the incident, with all passengers and crew members disembarking safely.

    Read Also: Dana Air plane skids off runway in Port Harcourt

  • ADA, OAS partner to provide helicopter services for offshore operations in Nigeria

    ADA, OAS partner to provide helicopter services for offshore operations in Nigeria

    United Arab Emirates helicopter company, Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) has completed steps to invest in the Nigerian economy by joining forces with indigenous aircraft charter operator, OAS Helicopters.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ADA’s 15-seater full offshore equipped helicopter, AW-139, with registration number A6-AWH, arrived at the at OAS new Terminal at the Port Harcourt Airport on Thursday

    Confirming the partnership to newsmen in Lagos, ADA’s Representative, Mr Kevin Den Hertog, said the company had always wanted to invest in Nigeria but had been looking for a reliable partner which had been in helicopter operations for over a decade.

    He said : “With the level of implementation on the proposed business plan so far, we are quite confident that OAS and ADA partnership will enrich the Nigeria oil and gas aviation.

    “Important to our success over the years has been an ever increasing engagement with strategic partners worldwide in the formation of healthy joint ventures that support oil and gas exploration in the deepest possible offshore with impeccable safety records.”

    Also speaking, the company’s Nigeria operations Lead Pilot, Capt. Westwood James, said ADA and OAS technical partnership was structurally designed to guarantee and deliver credible, safe and stable services in Nigeria oil and gas aviation.

    On his part, the Managing Director of OAS, Capt Evarest Nnaji, said the practical kick off of the partnership had started with the arrival and the physical presence of ADA crew and equipment in Nigeria.

    Nnaji said : “We looked at ADA’s capacity to play at the highest echelons in the oil and gas aviation support, and their ability and willingness to build and transfer know-how in all the other international environments where they operate.

    “We concluded that not only is ADA valuable to huge business profitability, but that they are equally reputable for reliable and consistent long term business relationship.

    “Their safety record, volume of investment and ability to deliver excellent services even in the most difficult environment speaks for itself.”

    He added that the airline’s huge desire to provide services that meet the best possible international standard for Nigeria oil and gas aviation was the main driving force in the relationship with ADA.

  • FG approves additional N1.57 billion for Port Harcourt airport

    FG approves additional N1.57 billion for Port Harcourt airport


    …To appoint national carrier transaction adviser by Wednesday

    …CBN pays $300 million to airlines

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday approved additional N1.57 billion for rehabilitation and refurbishment of Port Harcourt airport.

    The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

    According to him, FEC approved the rehabilitation cost of the international wing of the airport from N777,726,669.30 to N1,684,520,310.58 for the original contractor Messes Entaba.

    The second project, he said, is the refurbishment of the airport terminal building phase II domestic wing from N746,830,782.12 to N1,411,662,855.67

    He said: “Also FEC approves the revised total estimate cost of finishing Port Harcourt Airport both domestic and international wing. So FEC approves the project as it is captured in the 2016 and 2017 budget.

    “So very soon we will complete that very important airport especially the arrival. Port Harcourt airport has been tagged the worst airport in the world but by the grace of God and the wisdom of council, it will be completed.” He added

    He also said that FEC approved the ratification of climate change Paris agreement, bilateral agreement against double taxation with Kenya.

    He said that there would be improved security and more parking spaces at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja once its concession is completed.

    He said: “Issue of security is of paramount importance to us, you will notice that there is more security when going into the airport than when coming out. That doesn’t mean there is no security coming out of the airport, the presence does not deter in the readiness to challenge security.

    “However among the number of challenges we are addressing as a government is security and safety, so that is being addressed as a government.

    “By the end of November we are going to have stakeholders meeting and some of these things will be shown there.

    “The issue of parking space at the airport, this is part of the plan of the Abuja airport, you must have noticed some portion have been cleared. By the time it is completed, we would have a proper parking space which you will go and park for a fee.

    “Once the airport is concessioned, all these will take sharp. Just be patient in the next 24 to 36 months most of these things will be in place.

    He disclosed that the CBN has made available $300 million out of the $600 million of the airlines funds stock in Nigeria to pay the airlines, demonstrating its commitment to the sector.

    The government, he said, has been talking to change airlines like Egypt Air, British Airways, Turkish Air which fly in Nigeria with undesirable aircrafts while they put better aircraft on other routes

    “However, some of them are constrained by some of the infrastructure we have in place for example Emirate. Emirate will love to bring the kind of aircraft they fly around the world but the apron in Abuja is not supporting that service. That is why the aircraft they take to Lagos is different from the one they take to Abuja.

    “That inadequacies is also being addressed and once that is done we will have befitting aircraft coming. This has always been a challenge.

    Speaking on the foreign carriers that are threatening to leave Nigeria, he said: “I think it is a response to how the industry is doing globally specially Nigeria with recession, our inability to get the airlines to repatriate in their currency that they earn through sales of tickets.

    “They find it very difficult to operate and do business. Also their inability to get Jet A1 at some point and other operational reasons. I did say that these are commercial decisions that the airlines will take but with the way the routes are and will what we have been doing to correct these things that any airline will pull out.

    “A 100 per cent of foreign exchange being required by local airlines is being provided now. The aviation is dollar denominated, you buy air craft in dollar, you service in dollar, you train your crew in dollar, you do every thing in dollar. And we simply do not have the dollar to pay these airlines. But now as we are talking, government through the CBN has made available $300 million out of the $600 million of the airlines funds stock in nigeria to pay the airlines to demonstrate its commitment to the sector.

    “And with devaluation $600 million could be $1 billion. With government intervention they have been given $300 million gradually we will clear everything and once that happen they are not going to go anywhere.

    “Nigeria has population of 177 million serving west and central Africa, 600 million people market, double that of US, half India, equal to Europe so this is a very important market and they know and they will stay here. I believe we are also offering them incentives.

    “But the most important incentive is that between now and Wednesday we will appoint transaction adviser for national carrier, once that is in place Nigerians will have options, there will be competition, good aircraft and this will bring the price down.” He stated