FG Shifts Concession of Four International Airports to Q2
To issue Requests-for-Proposal on national carrier establishment Monday
The Federal Government has moved the target date for the concession of Nigeria’s four major international airports from the first quarter of this year to the second quarter.
It also announced that the government would issue Requests-for-Proposal for the establishment of the long-awaited national carrier, Nigeria Air, by next week Monday.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who disclosed this during a chat with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, stated that transaction advisers for the concession of the airports were currently analyzing the proposals of bidders.
He explained that successful bidders would be announced soon, adding that the entire process should be completed in the second quarter of this year.
Sirika said, “The transaction advisers for the concession have finished the Outline Business Case and had got the Request-for-Qualification. We’ve pre-qualified the people and they’ve been issued Request-for-Proposal.
“They’ve turned the proposals in and we are analyzing them to announce the successful bidders and this will be soon. Our timetable is for the first quarter of this year. Read more
Ukraine: Air Peace, Max Air confirm evacuation of Nigerians, to deploy Boeing 777-300, 747-400
Air Peace and Max Air have confirmed they would depart the country on Wednesday night for the evacuation of Nigerians stranded abroad as a result of the war in Ukraine.
Both airlines contracted by the Federal Government to carry out the evacuation of Nigerians in the war-ravaged zone would deploy their wide-bodied aircraft for the exercise.
Max Air would evacuate 560 Nigerians on Wednesday from Romania while Air Peace would convey 360 from Poland and Hungary.
The Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide, confirmed the readiness of Air Peace to carry out the evacuation. The airline is expected to deploy its Boeing 777-300., “Air Peace will leave this night to Bucharest and Warsaw to airlift Nigerians back to the country. They will land in Lagos. They are expected to arrive on Thursday,” Olajide said.
Max Air confirmed that it would depart Nigeria by 11 P.M on Wednesday with its Boeing 747-400 aircraft with the capacity to airlift 560 passengers. “We have our two Boeing 747 ready and serviceable to carry out the evacuation,” an official of the airline said.
FEC Approves N3.5b for Aviation Equipment in Lagos, Abuja, Kano
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved N3,523,592,079 for projects under the Ministry of Aviation.
This was made known to State House Correspondents after the weekly virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, said the contracts are for Abuja, Lagos, and Kano international airports.
He said: “There was also the memo presented by the Minister for Aviation, which got approval for the supply and installation of two sets of complete high-capacity passenger security screening systems for the Murtala Mohammed International Airports, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at N1,193,630,980.
“There was also approval gotten by the Aviation Minister for the supply and installation of airfield ground lighting materials for the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and also the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano N2,329,961,099.60.” Read more
Dana Air Partners Travelstart On Seamless Booking
Nigeria’s Dana Air has announced that it will partner with Travelstart, Africa’s largest online travel agency, on seamless booking and exciting deals to provide customers with smart fares as soon as the ongoing systems integration is concluded.
This was made known during a courtesy visit by the Global Chief Operating Officer of Travelstart, Amanpreet Singh from South Africa, and the Country Manager Travelstart Nigeria, Bukky Akomolafe to Dana Air recently.
Speaking during the courtesy visit, the Chief Operating Officer of Travelstart, Amanpreet Singh said: “Dana Air is a huge player in the Nigerian market and one of our biggest clients. With the continuously growing demand for Dana Air tickets on our platforms, we felt the need to enter into this integration to provide seamless booking options for our customers, which will, in turn, make it easy for us to also partner on very exciting deals for local air travelers.”
He noted that Dana Air has a lot of customer-centric online products and services and Travelstart will consider a lot of partnerships and Business Development Initiatives that will not only be beneficial to the customers but will accentuate the brand essence of both Dana Air and Travelstart Nigeria.
Also commenting during the visit, the Deputy CEO of Dana Air Sukhjinder Mann declared: “Dana Air is always super excited to consider anything and everything that will empower our customers or offer them a hassle-free service from the point of booking to flying you to your destination.
“Travelstart is a global brand and one of our biggest agents doing very well in terms of daily sales and we do appreciate this. As soon as the integration is completed, our customers can rest assured of getting more seamless options and better deals from this partnership.
“We have a lot also in the kitty from our gradual strategic fleet renewal plan to route expansion drive to provide reliable options to customers on certain routes in Nigeria. We are building a brand everyone will be proud of and I can assure you we will get there. We are glad to have you on board as our strategic business partner.
Airline Safety Record Improves Strongly in 2021: IATA
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) has released 2021 safety performance data for the commercial airline industry showing strong improvement in several areas compared to both 2020 and to the five years 2017-2021.
Highlights include:
• Reductions in the total number of accidents, the all-accident rate, and fatalities.
• Iata members and airlines on the Iata Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registry (which includes all Iata members) experienced zero fatal accidents last year.
• No runway/taxiway excursion accidents, for the first time in at least 15 years.
“Safety is always our highest priority. The severe reduction in flight numbers last year compared to the 5-year average magnified the impact of each accident when we calculate rates. Yet in the face of numerous operational challenges in 2021, the industry improved in several key safety metrics. At the same time, it is clear that we have much work ahead of us to bring all regions and types of operations up to global levels of safety performance,” said Willie Walsh, Iata’s Director-General.
Fatality risk
The overall increase in the fatality risk in 2021 to 0.23 is owing to the rise in fatal turboprop accidents. There was one fatal accident involving jet aircraft last year and the jet fatality risk in 2021 was 0.04 per million sectors, an improvement over the 5-year average of 0.06.
The overall fatality risk of 0.23 means that on average, a person would need to take a flight every day for 10,078 years to be involved in an accident with at least one fatality.
IOSA
IOSA is the global industry standard for airline operational safety audits and a requirement for Iata membership. It is used by numerous authorities in their regulatory safety programs.
• 403 airlines are on the IOSA Registry, including 115 non-Iata Members.
• The all-accident rate for airlines on the IOSA registry in 2021 was more than six times better than the rate for non-IOSA airlines (0.45 vs. 2.86).
• The 2017-2021 average of IOSA airlines versus non-IOSA airlines was nearly three times as good. (0.81 vs. 2.37). All Iata member airlines are required to maintain their IOSA registration.
“The contribution of IOSA to improving safety was demonstrated in the superb results of airlines on the registry—regardless of region of operation. We will continue to evolve IOSA to support even better industry safety performance,” said Walsh. Read more
Qatar Airways Kicks Off Kano Route To 140 Global Destinations
Qatar Airways has kicked off the Kano-Doha route, which will connect the ancient city to about 140 global destinations.
The airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner touched down at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport to a water-cannon salute yesterday morning, marking the start of four new weekly services to Kano from Doha via Abuja and the third Nigerian destination served by Qatar Airways.
This is as Air Peace has commenced direct flights to Dubai. The first flight was operated with one of the airline’s Boeing 777 5N-BUU, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
The inaugural flight was brought in by Qatari Captain Mohammed Abdulla and Nigerian First Officer, Adeola Olamide Ogunmola, from Gwagwalada, just outside Abuja – a symbol of the close ties between the two countries.
The state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner serving the route is one of the most modern aircraft in Qatar Airways’ fleet. It offers 22 seats in Business Class and 232 in the economy.
Qatar Airways’ vice-President, Africa, Hendrik du Preez said: “The new route will connect Kano, via Doha, to more than 140 destinations across its network. Kano has been a trade and travel hub for hundreds of years. Now by linking it to the world’s best airport, Hamid International Airport in Doha, we hope to grow traffic between these two important hubs.
Meanwhile, Air Peace spokesperson, Stanley Olisa, who disclosed the flight resumption in a statement, said the United Arab Emirates is not new terrain for Air Peace.
Olisa stated that the airline had commenced scheduled operations into the country via Sharjah Airport in July 2019, adding that, the airline is glad that it can now operate three weekly direct flights into the city of Dubai.
Air Peace noted that UAE and Nigeria have a long-standing relationship and is delighted to be serving as one of the veritable means of oiling this amity, especially, solidifying the economic ties between the two countries through air travel.
“Our commitment to excellence and determination to reduce the air travel burden of Africans will continue to drive our route expansion and fleet modernization. It is this same excellence that we’re replicating in this service.
Still, on the Qatar Airline route, vice-President, Africa, Hendrik du Preez said, “We anticipate particular demand to and from India and other markets. We also expect there will be strong cargo demand. This new service not only underpins our commitment to Nigeria but is also a clear indicator of recovery and expected growth.” Read more
FG Directs Domestic Airlines To Reverse 60% Airfare Increment
President Muhammadu Buhari-led’s government has directed domestic airlines to reverse the 60 percent increment in airfares on domestic routes.
Nigerians in the past few days have been complaining about the hike in airfares which sees the least ticket being sold for fifty thousand Naira.
An investigation carried out by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission revealed that the airlines might have unanimously agreed on airfares hike during meetings by the Airlines Operators of Nigeria.
The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive, FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera, in a statement released on Wednesday noted it is wrong for competitors to come together and agree to fix the price.
According to Irukera, investigations were still going on over the airfares hike.
He said, “Although the investigation is at early stages, there is sufficient probable cause to proceed and also provide interim measures to restore a free and undistorted domestic aviation market.
“In the circumstances, the commission is in addition to engaging the relevant stakeholders entering and dispatching interim orders under Sections 17(a),(e),(l),(s),18(3)(a), 157 and 158 of the FCCPA prohibiting the performance or continuation of any agreement or arrangement associated with, or resulting from discussions, deliberations, debates, argument or resolutions of/at any meeting of the AON or its members regarding any increase in airfares and or any conduct not necessarily directly in compliance, but in response to changes in the market on account of a compliance by others.”
Irukera added, “The commission’s preliminary investigation discloses the meeting dates of AON to have been on or about February 8, February 17, and February 23, 2022.
“The investigation also confirms that one of the items of discussion during at least one of those meetings was to set base or minimum airfares.
“The commission’s understanding from intelligence so far gathered is that there was significant controversy and or an initial lack of consensus concerning coordinated conduct resulting in setting airfares.
“The commission also has credible information that while attendees at the meeting may not have arrived at a consensus, the meeting ended in a resolution that encouraged, permitted or consented to the coordinated conduct.”
Sources: Tribune Online, SunNews Online; The Nation Online; Trade Arabia; Leadership Newspaper