Travel & Business News

  Boeing recently closed a deal with one of its most loyal customers, Southwest Airlines to deliver 100 Max planes, with delivery of the first thirty to happen next year. The deal was closed on Monday, which happened to be the 50 th anniversary of Boeing’s agreement with the airline for its first three planes. The contract comes as a boost for the jet program, especially after the 737 MAX was grounded in March 2019 after two crashes that resulted in loss of lives. Commenting on the recent development, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Stan Deal said, “Southwest Airlines has long been a leader and bellwether for the airline industry and its order is a big vote of confidence for commercial air travel. We are deeply honoured by Southwest’s continuing trust in Boeing and the 737.” According to sources, the financial terms of the agreement have not been divulged yet, but Southwest made it quite clear that Boeing offered them a tremendous bargain, o...

  L-R: Mr. Wenden De Landro, Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago; Captain Chris Najomo, Arik Air’s Chief Pilot; Mr. Esmond Reid, Ambassador of Jamaica. It was amid pomp and fanfare that Arik Air was recently crowned Airline of the Decade 2010-2020 by producers of African Travel Quarterly (ATQ)/Travelers magazine. The award was presented by the Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr Wendell De Landro . The award ceremony took place last Saturday during Travelers Award 2020 held at the Nicon Luxury Hotel , Abuja, and was graced by Commissioners of Tourism and Culture, Ambassadors, top travel agents and tour operators. According to Mr. Ikechi Ukoh, Tourism Ambassador and publisher of ATQ magazine, Arik Air deserves the award because it is “still a global brand from Nigeria.” He went further to praise the airline’s founders for the great things they have accomplished so far through the carrier. While receiving the award, Captain Chris Najomo, Arik Air’s Chief Pilot thanked the orga...

  The much talked about International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Pass has overcome its first test, as Singapore Airlines became the first airline to implement the Pass when it recently transported its first passengers to London’s Heathrow Airport – passengers who made use of the Pass to manage their health credentials throughout the trip. As expected, IATA is pleased with this milestone. Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO expressed this pleasure by saying, “The successful implementation of IATA Travel Pass in this trial with Singapore Airlines passengers demonstrates that technology can securely, conveniently and efficiently help travelers and governments to manage travel health credentials. The significance of this to re-starting international aviation cannot be overstated .” The IATA boss went on to call the step a “big win for many parties”, as he further emphasized the importance of having a single system which harmonizes all passenger health ...

  Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation The Federal Government (FG) has given the go-ahead for catering companies to resume their activities on domestic flights after they were suspended at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The resumption will be supervised by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure that all those involved execute their roles in accordance with international practices. The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika divulged this on Monday during the weekly media briefing held by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. According to Sirika, the decision to resume in-flight catering services came from the need to restart the various businesses involved in the aviation catering sector, because these have suffered undesirable effects linked to the suspension of their activities when the pandemic hit. The Minister went on to reveal that modalities are being put in place for the resumption of international flights at the Port Harcourt, Akanu Ibiam and Mallam Am...

  On Thursday, Air Peace took delivery of another Embraer 192-E2 – the second of thirteen orders already placed by the airline. The aircraft was received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. According to Barrister Allen Onyema, the Chairman of Air Peace, the E195-E2 is an extra modern aircraft, and Air Peace is the first in Africa to pay for thirteen brand new jets. In his own words, “ We are the first in Africa to pay for 13 brand new planes and we would be acquiring 17 more to make it 30. These planes shall be deployed to domestic and regional routes. These jets are the best. If all the powers shut down while 30 feet above sea level, a RAM deploys automatically and the plane lands effortlessly. The aircraft speaks to the pilot and the pilot speaks to it. By the time we get everything, we would be providing 8000 jobs to Nigerians” Commenting on the airline’s present depleted capacity, Onyema explained that Air Peace’ jets that were flown out of Nigeria for mai...

  Capt. Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu The Managing Director (MD) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu, was recently appointed to represent Africa in the World Governing Council of Airports Council International (ACI). He was appointed alongside two other seasoned aviation professionals namely Mr. Emanuel Chaves of Aeroportos de Mozambique – a seasoned aviation professional from Mozambique who was appointed President of ACI, and Mr. Dewananda Chellen of Airports of Mauritius Co. Ltd (Member) from Mauritius. Together, the three men will be representing Africa in the Council, and their appointment takes immediate effect.  

  Ethiopian Airlines has joined forces with Africa Centers for Disease Control (Africa CDC) to implement the African Union Trusted Travel Pass in order to render travel easier and safer within and from the continent. The collaboration was born of the need to harmonize health information across various health platforms; to curb the high costs presently associated with air travel due to COVID-19, and to create a data bank for the benefit of health policy makers and biosecurity planners. Ethiopian Airlines’ customers can now enjoy contactless, convenient and hassle-free travel, as the Trusted Travel Pass program will ensure that country regulations pertaining to COVID-19 travel requirements are met as meticulously as possible, and are easily verified prior to passengers’ takeoff. Mr. Getinet Tadesse, Ethiopian’s Chief Information Officer had this to say about the partnership: “ We are offering new digital opportunities to our passengers so as to fully and safely restore air trav...

President Muhammadu Buhari   In a recent development, President Muhammadu Buhari has reappointed Engr. Akin Olateru as the Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Nigeria. Alongside this reappointment, the President also endorsed the appointment of new heads at the following organizations as follows: Captain Modibbo Alkali Mahmud replaces Capt. Abdulsalami Mohammed as the rector at the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria; Professor Bako Matazu – new head at the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMET), who has been appointed to replace Professor Sani Abubakar Mashi. According to James Odaudu, the Director of Media at the Ministry of Aviation, the above reappointment and appointments are all in accordance with the Federal Government’s dedication to execute President Buhari’s Aviation Development Roadmap, and are to be effected immediately The Federal Government has also divulged that this reorganization exercise is a...

  In a bid to achieve seamless travel for passengers, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Emirates and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Dubai is among the first cities in the world to implement digital verification of travelers’ medical records pertaining to their history of COVID-19 tests and vaccinations. The Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum had this to say about the partnership: “Dubai is a leading air transport hub, as well as one of the world’s most progressive cities in the area of e-government services. It is a natural step to combine our capabilities to implement digital verification of COVID-19 medical records, which will also enable contactless document verification at Dubai Airport.” According to sources, Emirates and the DHA look forward to working together in linking Emirates’ reservations/check-in platform and the IT systems of DHA approved laboratories. The harmonization process ta...

  The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has revealed that health and security concerns are responsible for the continuous suspension of operations at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. Sirika divulged this in response to an appeal by the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who led a delegation to see him recently.   According to Ganduje, his visit to Sirika was executed for two main reasons: to appreciate the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari for the completion of the international wing of Kano airport, and to appeal for the resumption of international flights at the said airport. After listening to his concerns about the devastating effects the present suspension is having on the state’s economy, Sirika assured the Governor that it was also his wish to see the airport reopen for operations, but that the present health and security threats posed by the airport remain a problem. In his own words, “The suspension of international flig...

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has announced that it has opened an investigation into the burst tire incident that happened on Runway 18R on March 8 involving a B737-300 aircraft operated by Air Peace. According to sources, the aircraft which had left Abuja carrying 127 passengers and 6 crew members had a burst tire as it touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and taxied into GAT shortly after. Fortunately, no casualties were recorded. The investigative team earlier released a statement pertaining to the incident which read: “Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria has been notified and has commenced an investigation into a serious incident involving a Boeing 737-300 with nationality and registration number 5N-BUQ operated by Air Peace Airline which occurred around 9:31pm (local time) on 8 th March, 2021.” The Bureau went further to solicit assistance from the general public – assistance which could be in the form of video clips or eye witness acco...

  Everyone in the aviation industry knows about the Boeing versus Airbus commercial airline duopoly. It is also known that Boeing is the king of freighter jets, and there are reasons for this. According to sources, Boeing has more than 760 freighter aircraft variants ordered by customers, with 732 already delivered, and this number does not even include the several combination aircraft that the manufacturer has sold or those that have been converted from passenger to cargo aircraft by various airlines. Juxtapose this with Airbus which has not sold a new built cargo aircraft for almost six years. Even though Airbus enjoys a certain amount of success with its few passenger-to-freighter (P2F) converted aircraft, the numbers are still insignificant compared to Boeing. One could say that the reason for this disparity between Boeing and Airbus is the fact that from inception, Boeing had embraced freighter variants as part of its product lineup because apart from the B787 Dreamliner...

  Group MD, NAHCO Plc, Mrs. Tokunbo Fagbemi Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc joined in the celebration of the International Day of the Woman on March 8, and in the spirit of giving, gave out cash prizes to deserving women within the Company. NAHCO is known for celebrating women each year on the said date, and this year was not an exception, though this time, the festivities took place mainly on Zoom due to COVID-19. In line with this year’s theme, “I Choose to Challenge”, three female challengers who wrote brilliant essays on the topic received cash prizes for their amazing pieces. The online event also featured lengthy talks on this year’s theme, with a focus on how women can seize opportunities to challenge the status quo wherever they find themselves. According to the Group Managing Director, Mrs. Olatokunbo Fagbemi, “Women are the bedrock of the nation; they have contributed immensely in building society. We celebrate them today because apart from being ass...

  It was amid the traditional water canon salute at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja that Allied Air, one of Nigeria’s foremost cargo airlines recently received its newly acquired N8billion B737-800 SF. Among those who received the aircraft were senior government officials and financiers such as the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefelie; the Managing Director (MD) of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe; the MD of Allied Air, Capt. Val Thongo. In his address, Hadi Sirika thanked the CBN and Access Bank for their unique roles in the procurement of the said aircraft, and divulged that the federal government is presently devising policies to ease the aircraft acquisition process in the future. Throwing more light on how the B737-800 was procured, Emefelie first began by thanking Hadi Sirika for his persistent contribution to the improvement of the aviation industry in Nigeria, before revealing that, “ This air...

  Loyal Wingman – a first-of-its-kind military aircraft to be designed and manufactured in Australia in more than fifty years – has successfully completed its maiden test flight with no crew onboard. The extraordinary aircraft is the result of collaboration between Boeing [NYSE:BA] Australia   and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) – a feat which took them only three years to accomplish, from designing the aircraft to its first flight. The flight occurred under the supervision of a Boeing test pilot, who monitored the jet from a ground control station at the Woomera Range Complex. Leanne Caret, Boeing Defense’ Space & Security President and CEO had this to say concerning this recent development: “Boeing and Australia are pioneering fully integrated combat operations by crewed and uncrewed aircraft. We’re honoured to be opening this part of aviation’s future with the Royal Australian Air Force, and we look forward to showing others how they also could benefit from ou...

  Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 It was with relief that Bi-courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), the operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), recently took delivery of new x-ray machines and air conditioners, in line with the Operator’s plan to make MMA2 safer and more comfortable for its clients. In a statement released on Friday by BASL Group’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Mikail Mumuni, it was revealed that the equipment, which was imported from the United States arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) – Lagos on Wednesday night and was then transferred to MMA2. The installation of the x-ray machines and air conditioners already kicked off on Friday - installations which are expected to be completed in the coming week. According to the acting Head of Business of BASL, Mr. Ralph Uchegbu, “The installation of the new x-ray machines and air conditioners will further reinforce the status of MMA2 as the nation’s pre-eminent airport terminal i...

  Mr. Muharram Abdel Rahman, GM - Nigeria, EgyptAir The General Manager (GM) of EgyptAir in Nigeria, Mr. Muharram Abdel Rahman, has received the Excellence Award from the Travel Consultants Club of Nigeria - an Aviation NGO, for the dedicated support he has provided to Nigerian travel consultants over the years. The award was presented by Mr. Edet Effiong Aduak, the National President of the Association, together with his colleague Mrs. Adie Elizabeth, the National Secretary, during a courtesy visit to mark the unveiling of the airline's newly designed and freshly renovated office with state-of-the-art facilities. Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, the GM began his address to members of the media present by thanking the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika for all he is doing to propel the aviation industry forward. He then went on to unveil the airline’s two-in-one package for its esteemed customers – a 50% discount to all travel destinations served by the airline, and th...

  Osubi Airport The Federal Government (FG) recently approved the reopening of Osubi Airport, Warri – Delta State, though for now, operations will be carried out only under particular and well determined circumstances. The news was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika via his twitter handle which reads, “I have just approved the reopening of Osubi Airport, Warri for daylight operations in VFR conditions subject to all procedures, practices and protocols, including those for COVID-19 which are strictly being observed. There will not be need for local approvals henceforth.” It should be recalled that the Osubi Airport was commissioned on 17 th April, 1999 by the then minister of Aviation, Capt. Briggs. It was managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Shell BP after which it was handed over to Shoreline Oil Services Limited. According to sources, the FG terminated Shoreline’s contract in February 2020, citing “issues of competence” as the r...

  It was a day to remember for Ibom Air staff, when the airline recently airlifted its 500,000 th passenger since it kicked-off operations twenty-one months ago. Commenting on this recent milestone, Ibom Air’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), George Uriesi said, “We are very pleased to record this key milestone of 500,000 passengers, though we would have clocked this number around November of last year if not for the three and a half months of COVID-19 lockdown. Still, it is an indication of steady customer uptake and a validation of our services.” Uriesi went further to thank all those patronizing Ibom Air for believing in the airline, stressing that it will continue to satisfy their very high expectations. Ibom Air is an airline owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government which gained a reputation for on-time service delivery soon after it commenced operations on June 7, 2019, and has maintained a performance rating above 90% ever since. Its regular routes include daily fligh...