How Domestic Airlines Support Nigerian Brand
It is an indisputable fact that air travel is the fastest means of movement and provides the only rapid worldwide transportation network, which makes it very essential for business. The aviation sector helps economic growth and Nigerian airlines have been at the forefront of creating jobs, facilitating trade and tourism, and promoting the country’s brand. As Air Peace, Nigeria’s biggest airline marks seven years of operation this month, we take a look at how it has contributed to nation-building and the economy.
Over many decades, the Nigerian aviation industry has seen the birth and demise of many airlines, a factor the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, attributes to poor business plans, high cost of maintenance, choice of operational equipment, high interest on loans, and poor corporate governance. When airlines like Bellview (founded in 1992), Chachangi (1994), Air Nigeria (2004), and many others existed, they created thousands of direct and indirect jobs and helped in the growth of the aviation sector. By the time the government-owned Nigeria Airways ceased operations in 2003, Airk Air which was founded in 2002 was already showing the prospects of emerging as the country’s largest airline.
Just three years into its operation, Arik had opened international routes and was rapidly expanding such that there were speculations that it could be given the status as Nigeria’s flag carrier after Air Nigeria ceased operations. Unfortunately, by 2016, Arik had plunged into a major financial crisis and most of its aircraft became non-operational and by the start of 2017, it was taken over by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) because, as at the time, it was deemed by the Federal Government as ‘too big to fail.’ Like the airlines before it, Airk Air provided thousands of direct and indirect jobs at its prime and was very vital to the ecosystem of the aviation industry.
Job Creation
Air Peace, currently Nigeria’s largest airline, commenced operations on October 24, 2014, and, according to its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, the airline was founded with the sole purpose of creating jobs for Nigerians. Currently, it has employed over 3,000 workers and creates indirect jobs for thousands more. While receiving its third new Embraer 195-E2, from the Embraer Facility in Sao Jose Dos Campos last June, Onyema said Air Peace would create up to 17,000 jobs by 2023 when it completes delivery of its 30 new Embraer jets. He said the airline has fully paid for 13 new aircraft and made purchase rights of an additional 17 more which would be activated by 2023. Read more.
To Save Airlines Huge Expenses on ForeignTrips,FG Stops NCAA from Overseas Inspection of Aircraft
The federal government has stopped the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) from sending its officials overseas to inspect aircraft ferried out of the country for maintenance.
The order also applies to the inspection of aircraft before its acquisition by Nigerian airlines.
A top official of the NCAA who confirmed this to THISDAY explained that the decision was in line with the federal government’s policy of banning civil servants from traveling overseas in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and also to save airlines from huge expenses of paying for the trip overseas.
It was learned that any airline that has its aircraft on maintenance overseas pays NCAA about N3 million for inspection, flight, and accommodation.
The fee is for NCAA officials who are assigned to go and audit aircraft, which maintenance has been completed in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility.
It was also learned that when an airline is bringing newly acquired aircraft, NCAA inspectors are sent overseas to inspect the aircraft before they are certified and allow it to be ferried into the country.
A senior official of NCAA who spoke to THISDAY said: “Based on government’s directive, we stopped inspectors from traveling overseas to inspect aircraft because of government policy. We did that to also save money for Nigerian airlines and reduce the cost of operation. We are going to keep to that decision till further notice. We have informed airlines that are acquiring aircraft, the standard the aircraft must meet before it is brought into the country.”
Commending NCAA for the new policy, the former Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Capt Ado Sanusi told THISDAY that the decision would save a lot of money for the airlines and also noted that paying for such trips overseas leads to a conflict of interest and creates an opportunity for the regulatory authority to compromise its standard because an inspector who knew that an airline spent so much money on him to travel overseas may be tempted to withhold facts that could undermine the airline’s operation.
He however noted that the NCAA has been very firm so far, adding that bringing the aircraft into the country for inspection is very good because it not only saves money for the airlines but gives NCAA inspectors the opportunity to settle down and do their work.
Sanusi said that if Nigeria has MRO, it would save airlines huge resources and cited an example of the MRO facility owned by Aero Contractors, which maintains Boeing 737 Classics, and disclosed that for every aircraft maintained in that facility, the airline that owns it, saves between $200, 000 to $300, 000 because that is an extra cost ferrying the aircraft overseas.
He also said with the difficulty in sourcing foreign exchange, it becomes a more challenging situation for the airline. Read more
Boeing Says Africa Will Need 1,030 New Aircraft by 2040
Boeing anticipates demand for 1,030 new aircraft valued at $160 billion in the African aviation market by 2040.
The demand for new aircraft will be driven by the continent’s projected 3% annual economic growth over the next 20 years.
According to Boeing’s 2021 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO), new deliveries will include 740 narrow-body aircraft and 250 wide-body aircraft.
Boeing forecasts that 80% of African jet deliveries will serve fleet growth with more sustainable aircraft such as the 737, 777X, and 787 Dreamliner, while 20% of new deliveries will replace older airplanes.
“African carriers are well-positioned to support inter-regional traffic growth and capture market share by offering services that efficiently connect passengers and enable commerce within the continent,” Randy Heisey, Boeing managing director of Commercial Marketing for the Middle East and Africa, said.
Boeing’s Commercial Market Outlook also anticipates that Africa’s commercial aviation industry will be in need of more than 63,000 new aviation staff by 2040, including 19,000 pilots, 24,000 cabin crew, and 20,000 technicians.
British Airways Strikes Codeshare Deal with Kenya Airways
British Airways customers will be able to fly to more destinations across Africa, thanks to a new codeshare agreement with Kenya Airways.
Customers flying to Nairobi with British Airways will be able to seamlessly connect to 20 destinations across east and central Africa, including Douala, Zanzibar, Lusaka, Mombasa, Addis Ababa, and Entebbe.
Customers will also have more options to get to popular holiday hotspots, Mauritius and Seychelles.
In the reciprocal agreement, customers flying with Kenya Airways to London will now be able to connect to 26 destinations across the UK and Europe that British Airways operates to, including Glasgow, Madrid, Milan, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt.
British Airways currently offers four flights a week from London Heathrow to Nairobi, operated by a four-class Boeing 777 aircraft.
Christopher Fordyce, British Airways head of alliances, said: “After a difficult 20 months with global travel restrictions, it’s fantastic to see travel between the UK and Africa resuming.
“We are really pleased to be able to offer our customers access to even more destinations across the region thanks to our new codeshare agreement with Kenya Airways, making that bucket list trip even easier to plan.”
Melbourne and Sydney to Reopen to World Next Month with Quarantine-free International Travel and Flights
More than 14 million Australians will be able to leave and re-enter the country without quarantining if they are fully vaccinated from next month as Melbourne and Sydney take the first steps towards reopening to the world and Qantas brings forward the restart of international flights.
A quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and Singapore could be established within the next week, with an agreement between the countries in its final stages, ahead of a planned wider unlocking of the nation’s borders before Christmas.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce revealed Australians could be traveling to Bali by early 2022 “at the latest” as the carrier announced it was resuming flights from Melbourne and Sydney to destinations including London, Singapore, Bangkok, and Johannesburg ahead of schedule.
Singapore Airlines also started selling tickets for flights between Singapore and Melbourne on Friday evening.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday confirmed fully vaccinated international travelers flying to Melbourne would not have to quarantine from November 1, bringing his state into line with NSW.
Parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents will also be able to apply for an exemption to travel to Australia from that date.
“No hotel quarantine, no isolation – you’ll be able to go about your business,” Mr. Andrews said on the same day his state emerged from its sixth lockdown.
“And the reason for that is that, at 80 percent, 90 percent [COVID-19 vaccination rate] – which is where we’re going to get to – we are as protected as we can be.”
Mr. Andrews said the state’s hotel quarantine program would be reduced to “just a handful of hotels”, with international arrivals who had not had an approved vaccine or refused to be vaccinated still having to quarantine.
The Premier said he was “optimistic” tourists could return to Australia by Christmas. “I want tourists back as quickly as we can, as safely as we can and the no-quarantine [rules] for the double-dosed, with some testing, is a really important step.” Read More
Enabling Local Airlines for Flag-carrier Services, National Pride
Amid Federal Government’s push for a new national carrier, stakeholders have rallied behind the flag-carrier option. They said renewed support for local airlines will deepen their aerial presence – at home and abroad.
That ‘government has no business in business is a cliché that resonates loudest in modern aviation and for all the right reasons too.
Since the 1950s, floating a national carrier has symbolized the legitimacy and majesty of an ’embassy’ in the air, with the national-color livery purring in continental airspace.
The desire for a national carrier is often driven by the diplomatic rights and privileges accorded to such countries rather than the business interests. At odds with national pride is the cost of operation and a debt burden that year-on-year hurt the national budget.
Lately, governments have been wiser with the appetite. Public criticisms and reviews on prodigal spending are upturning policies against government-run airlines. Quite a number of countries have, partly or as a whole, withdrawn majority shareholding from airline businesses.
Nigeria, however, appears to be swimming against the current in this matter. Almost 20 years after its national carrier, Nigeria Airways, was liquidated to cut aerial woes, the Buhari administration is bent on railroading scarce public funds into a new national carrier, which was in 2018 christened ‘Nigeria Air’, but without headway to date.
Besides citing “national pride” as its motivation, the Federal Government is aiming at a strong and reliable airline, to employ Nigerians in droves and give a well-deserved representation in global aviation, as the defunct-Nigeria Airways did in its heyday.
Apparently worried by the sluggish pace of its delivery and the sustainability question in the post-Buhari era, stakeholders have questioned the Federal Government’s objectives, noting that they are not in tune with the dynamics of such a venture. They said governments that erstwhile championed the cause of national carriers are achieving the same “national pride” but on the wings of efficient private-owned flag carriers. Read more
FAA Proposes an Increase In Rest Period for Flight Attendants
The FAA has moved forward with a long-anticipated proposal to increase the required rest period between shifts for flight attendants to 10 hours.
The proposal, which is championed by flight attendant unions, comes pursuant to a congressional mandate in the October 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act, which had called for the DOT to write a 10-hour rest requirement into federal code within 30 days.
Under current regulations, airlines can require a flight attendant to work a 14-hour shift, then return to work for another 14-hour shift after nine hours off, and in some cases after only eight hours.
In June, the DOT, which oversees the FAA, identified completing the extended-rest rule as one of its regulatory priorities for 2021.
The public will have 60 days to comment on the proposal after it is published in the Federal Register. If the rule becomes final, airlines will have 30 days to comply.
“Flight attendants play a critical safety role in keeping passengers safe on every flight and especially in emergencies,” FAA administrator Steve Dickson said in a prepared statement. “This proposal helps reduce fatigue so they can perform this critical role.”
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which is the largest U.S. flight attendants union, applauded the FAA’s action but also said the union wouldn’t rest until the rule becomes final.
“Flight Attendant fatigue is real. It is documented with congressionally mandated fatigue studies and other major health studies,” Nelson said. “Covid has only exacerbated the safety gap with long duty days, short nights and combative conditions on planes.”
The trade group Airlines for America (A4A) declined to comment on the extended-rest rule. In a public comment filing in 2019, A4A said that extending the required time between flight attendant shifts to 10 hours would cost U.S. airlines more than $1 billion over 10 years.
Canada Launches New Standard COVID-19 Vaccine Travel Certificate
New Canadian digital travel document will have a QR code for scanning at airports, train stations, and other entry points.
- The proof-of-vaccination certificate will have a Canadian identifying mark and meets major international smart health card standards.
- The document will include a person’s name, date of birth and COVID-19 vaccine history — including which doses a person received and when they were inoculated.
- Canadians will not be able to board a plane for foreign or domestic travel without a proof-of-vaccination certificate beginning November 30.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that a new standardized COVID-19 vaccination travel certificate is being launched by the country’s government.
“As Canadians look to start traveling again, there will be a standardized proof-of-vaccination certificate,” Trudeau said, urging Canadians who have not done so to get vaccinated as soon as possible. “We can end this pandemic and get back to the things we love.”
The national government will pay for rolling out the standardized vaccination passport, Trudeau said. “We will pick up the tab.”
In Canada, healthcare is largely delivered by provincial governments and mostly financed by the national government, sometimes leading to political squabbles about jurisdiction and who pays for what.
Some provinces, including Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Labrador, and all three northern territories, have already started using the national standard for a proof-of-vaccination certificate, Trudeau said.
A new digital travel document, dubbed Vaccine Passport, will have a QR code for scanning at airports, train stations, and other points of entry.
British Airways Flight Powered by Used Cooking Oil
British Airways has operated its first passenger service directly powered by sustainable aviation fuel, a London to Glasgow flight that the airline said produced 62% less CO2 emissions than a similar journey a decade ago.
The airline said the combination of the fuel – partly made from recycled cooking oil – with optimal flight paths, electrified airport vehicles and its newest plane slashed emissions. BA said it had offset the CO2 produced, making the flight carbon-neutral.
While about 6.4 tons of CO2 were still produced by flight BA1476 on Tuesday, the airline said the flight was intended to demonstrate the progress made by the aviation industry in its attempts to decarbonize ahead of the Cop26 summit.
The service was operated by BA’s special liveried “sustainability” plane, an Airbus A320neo, its quietest and most fuel-efficient short-haul model. The fuel was a 35% mix of sustainable fuels (SAFs) from BP – close to the maximum proportion currently permitted and higher than in similar demonstration flights.
Further contributions to maximizing efficiency came from the air traffic control service Nats, which ensured a direct ascent and descent with no holding time, while Heathrow used vehicles powered by green electricity to push the plane on the ground.
While most of the factors involved in creating the “perfect flight” that BA aimed for on Tuesday are not always available – and considerable skepticism remains about sustainable air travel and offsetting – BA said it was a glimpse of the future.
The BA chief executive, Sean Doyle, said: “This flight offered a practical demonstration of the progress we’re making in our carbon reduction journey. By working together with our industry partners we’ve delivered a 62% improvement in emissions reductions compared to a decade ago.
“This marks real progress in our efforts to decarbonize and shows our determination to continue innovating, working with governments and industry, and accelerating the adoption of new low-carbon solutions.”
BA said the reduction in emissions compared with a similar London-Edinburgh flight in 2010 was achieved primarily by the more efficient aircraft and operations – a 34% cut. The sustainable fuel, whose “carbon lifecycle emissions” could be up to 80% lower, contributed a 28% reduction. The remaining 38%, in common with all BA domestic flights, were offset using “high-quality, verified carbon offsets” – although there is a significant dispute about the value of offsetting. Read more
Sources: SunNewsOnline, ThisDayLive, Aerotime, Breaking Travel News, WAToday, Guardian Nigeria, Travel Weekly, The Guardian.