Tag: AVIATION

Abuja airport suspend flight operations, as aircraft overshoots runway

Aminu Imam

The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, has been temporarily shut following a runway incursion involving an Aero Contractors aircraft. The Lagos-Abuja flight, operated by Aero Contractors, landed at the Airport, as it was taxiing on Runway A4 when its nose wheel got stuck to the ground.  However, it was gathered that there was no fatality or injury, as passengers were safely disembarked from the aircraft while efforts are currently being made to remove the aircraft from the runway. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Dr.…

Read More

Two months after terrorists’ attack, flights to resume at Kaduna Airport

Aminu Imam

Commercial flights have resumed at the Kaduna International Airport two months after the facility was attacked by bandits. Recall that the airport has been dormant for almost two years despite over N2bn spent on upgrading of the airport by the Federal Government.  Since the March 26, 2022 attack at the airport by bandits, flight operations had been impaired with Azman, the only airline operating to the State, suspending its services. Two months later, Azman resumed operation with a one-way ticket from Abuja to Kaduna costing over N100, 000 due to the…

Read More

‘FG responsible for Nigerian airlines collapse’ – Charter operator

Aminu Imam

The Chief Executive Officer of West Link Airlines, a charter operator, Capt. Ibrahim Mshelia, has described civil aviation regulations in Nigeria as great moves, but limiting the growth of the airline sub-sector. Speaking in Lagos during the week, Mshelia said that the regulations were discouraging and contributed to the collapse of some of the indigenous airlines. Mshelia also said that the Federal Government through its multiple charges was responsible for the early deaths of the Nigerian airlines. According to him, the airlines are overburdened with charges, thereby limiting their potential…

Read More

Airfares skyrocket as exchange rate hits N702/$

Aminu Imam

As the exchange rate for ticket prices reaches N702/$, findings show that airfares on Nigerian routes to various locations in Europe, North America, the Middle-East, and other foreign cities have skyrocketed. The development came just a week after the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) floated the naira and directed commercial banks to sell foreign exchange at market rates. Recall that the CBN last week introduced new forex guidelines aimed at unifying the nation’s exchange rate, as part of its efforts to end multiple exchange rates that have caused several investors…

Read More

Nigeria Air: Aviation Stakeholders Claim Sirika Lied on Live Television

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

There is new twist to the Nigerian Air controversy as aviation industry stakeholders said the immediate Minister of Aviation; Senator Hadi Sirika lied on live television about his claims on the issue. Senator Sirika, had earlier in July 2018, unveiled the name and logo of Nigeria Air at Farnborough International promising that operation would begin within five months from that day. Sirika then said the airline would have flights on 81 domestic, regional and international routes. Barely two months after, Federal Government put the project on hold, asserting that it…

Read More

Foreign Flights: Passengers dump Nigeria airports for Benin, Ghana over high ticket fare

Aminu Imam

International air passengers are dumping Nigerian airports for Cotonou, Benin Republic, and Ghana airports to connect international flights, due to the exorbitant airfare by foreign airlines operating in Nigeria. Speaking to newsmen on Friday, during a press conference over the unjustifiable profiteering by foreign carriers, the president, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents (NANTA), Susan Akporiaye, said Nigerians are travelling across the borders in droves in order to connect cheaper flights to their destinations. According to her, the lower inventories that are shut against Nigerians are opened in other neighbouring…

Read More

Aviation Fuel Scarcity: ‘Expect delays, cancellations’ – Operators alert air passengers

Aminu Imam

As a result of acute scarcity of aviation fuel, popularly known as Jet-A1, in the country, there will be major disruptions in scheduled flight operations, including cancellations and unnecessary delays across all airports in the country. Domestic airline operators in the country, who gave the hint on Friday, advised the flying public to be ready for some form of disruptions during this period. The operators, under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), in an issued official statement signed by its spokesman, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, on Friday, titled: “Public…

Read More

Airline operators announce flight disruption over scarcity of aviation fuel

Aminu Imam

The Airline Operators of Nigeria, (AON), have announced plans to disrupt scheduled flight operations over the scarcity of aviation fuel. The development was contained in an issued statement, signed by its spokesperson, Prof. Obiora Spokesman, titled: ‘Public Notice: Disruptions in-flight operations’, yesterday. The operators, in a statement, lamented that aviation fuel scarcity would lead to flight rescheduling and cancellations. The notice read: “The Airline Operators of Nigeria wish to alert the public of impending disruptions to scheduled flight operations of members of the association. This development is being forced on…

Read More

Aviation fuel price hike: Domestic airlines to shut operations from Monday

Aminu Imam

Domestic airlines operating in Nigeria have said they will discontinue operations nationwide with effect from Monday, May 9, 2022, until further notice as a result of the fuel increase nationwide. In a statement by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), it stated that member airlines have carried on deploying and subsidizing their services to the Nigerian flying public in the last four months despite the steady and astronomical hike in the price of JetA1 and other operating costs. In the statement, which was signed by Managing Directors of Max Air,…

Read More

Nigeria Air: FG disburses N6.25bn on consultancy, advisers

Aminu Imam

…Budgets N14.7bn in 3yrs The controversial national carrier, Nigeria Air, may see the light of the day before the current administration winds down, with a new take-off date now set for the first quarter of 2022. The fresh optimism, it was learnt, is not unconnected with a recent headway in the search for credible technical partners and financial backings of the Federal Government year-on-year. Indeed, another shot at floating a national carrier, being one of the 2015 electioneering promises of President Muhammadu Buhari, has consistently scaled-up appropriation votes since 2019…

Read More