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...