Nigeria’s Aviation News Headlines for Monday August 29, 2016

 

 

It’s another beautiful Monday! Whether you are traveling for business or leisure, remember to plan your trips to get the best deals for the week. As usual, find the headlines below and follow the links to get the details. I am sure you will have a great week.

 

Power Outage Mars Flight Operations at Lagos International Airport

International airlines are finding it difficult to operate scheduled commercial flights from the international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, following a severe power outage which started late Saturday.
The Lagos international airport gets its power supply both from the national grid and from its independent power plant. Daily Sun however learnt that both power sources had failed to work on Saturday and Sunday thus throwing up the entire airport into a state of darkness and disrupting the ability of airlines to make use of the requisite facilities that could enable them take off and land and also disembark passengers. Major airlines whose flight operations were disrupted on Saturday lastweek included KLM/Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa and South Africa Airways flights.
“On Saturday these airlines had opted to use the ramp to board and disembark their passengers instead of using the fingers because of the absence of electricity to power the airport and it’s facilities,” a source told Daily Sun.
“The power outage continued on yesterday as no effort was made to address the problem and airlines like Arik Air London flight ,Virgin Atlantic Airways, Air Maroc flights were also hampered and they also had to make use of the ramp,” added the source.
Spokesman for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Yakubu Dati, who confirmed the development, said, “There was a power outage from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the airport was on our independent power supply.
“However when power was restored, the surge adversely affected the k16 transformer that serves the Air-bridges and rendered them unserviceable.
This adversely affected operations of departing flights. The heavy rainfall further delayed attempts by engineers to effect repairs immediately.” he said

http://sunnewsonline.com/aviation-n47bn-debt-domestic-airlines-tango-with-aviation-parastatals

 

Air Peace Boosts Expansion Plan with New Aircrafts 

 

Air Peace’s plan to cover more local routes and operate international flights has received a huge boost with the delivery of the new aircraft it recently acquired. Onyeama Onyeama Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Chief Allen Onyema told reporters in Lagos that the airline embarked on the acquisition of more aircrafts to service the local market and international routes it recently got approval for. “We have been designated to fly into Dakar, Senegal, Accra, Ghana, Niamey, Niger; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; and Douala, Cameroun, China, Dubai, India, and South Africa. “One of the new aircraft has the capacity to take 142 passengers, while the other can take 126 passengers. In our fleet, we now have nine Boeing and one Dornier aircraft. Some of the aircraft we will be deployed for the regional routes.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/air-peace-boosts-expansion-plan-new-aircraft

Air Peace boosts expansion plan with new aircrafts On August 29, 20165:18 amIn NewsComments Air Peace’s plan to cover more local routes and operate international flights has received a huge boost with the delivery of the new aircraft it recently acquired. Onyeama Onyeama Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Chief Allen Onyema told reporters in Lagos that the airline embarked on the acquisition of more aircrafts to service the local market and international routes it recently got approval for. “We have been designated to fly into Dakar, Senegal, Accra, Ghana, Niamey, Niger; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; and Douala, Cameroun, China, Dubai, India, and South Africa. “One of the new aircraft has the capacity to take 142 passengers, while the other can take 126 passengers. In our fleet, we now have nine Boeing and one Dornier aircraft. Some of the aircraft we will be deployed for the regional routes. “We have visited the civil aviation and relevant authorities in these countries and plans are at an advanced stage. We will soon announce our commencement dates on these routes, but one thing we want to assure our passengers is that we will put in our cockpit the best of pilots,” Onyema said.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/air-peace-boosts-expansion-plan-new-aircra

Air Peace boosts expansion plan with new aircrafts On August 29, 20165:18 amIn NewsComments Air Peace’s plan to cover more local routes and operate international flights has received a huge boost with the delivery of the new aircraft it recently acquired. Onyeama Onyeama Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Chief Allen Onyema told reporters in Lagos that the airline embarked on the acquisition of more aircrafts to service the local market and international routes it recently got approval for. “We have been designated to fly into Dakar, Senegal, Accra, Ghana, Niamey, Niger; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; and Douala, Cameroun, China, Dubai, India, and South Africa. “One of the new aircraft has the capacity to take 142 passengers, while the other can take 126 passengers. In our fleet, we now have nine Boeing and one Dornier aircraft. Some of the aircraft we will be deployed for the regional routes. “We have visited the civil aviation and relevant authorities in these countries and plans are at an advanced stage. We will soon announce our commencement dates on these routes, but one thing we want to assure our passengers is that we will put in our cockpit the best of pilots,” Onyema said.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/air-peace-boosts-expansion-plan-new-aircraft/

Aviation: N47bn debt: Domestic Airlines Tango with Aviation Parastatals

Regulatory agencies and service providers in Nigeria’s aviation industry recently commenced a debt recovery exercise to collect monies owed by domestic airlines. About N47billion debt are currently owed the various agencies like the Federal Airports Authority

of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other industry service providers.

In the last one month for instance, the agencies have intensified efforts at recovering these debts, and had at different times, attempted to suspend the supply of critical services to the airlines, an action that has drawn the criticisms of airline owners.

Operators want the Federal Government and relevant aviation agencies to be cautious in the quest to recover debts owed by the local airlines.

According to a statement by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), there is the need for the agencies and service providers to tread cautiously in its recent debt recovery move. “Some of the debts they want to recover can be described as phantom debts from
domestic airlines and they should tread cautiously in order not to run them out of business as they ran many airlines out of business in the past with ridiculous billing,” AON said. “We strongly decry the ongoing action by the various government agencies in the
aviation sector whereby they threaten to deny airlines services providers of their operations or completely ground them as this is likely to force airlines out of business,” AON added in a statement signed by its Chairman, Capt. Nogie Meggison.
http://sunnewsonline.com/aviation-n47bn-debt-domestic-airlines-tango-with-aviation-parastatals

 

Hajj: Pilgrims Complain Over BTA Slash

Muslim pilgrims boarding a Max Air flight to Saudi Arabia.

Several pilgrims to this year’s Hajj have complained of reduction in their expected Basic Travel Allowances (BTA) issued by their state Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Daily Trust gathered.
Intending pilgrims from Katsina state, especially those who paid for first class seats expressed worry over the BTA issued to them. It was gathered that the pilgrims who were expecting about $1500 USD were paid $1000 Dollars only.

A pilgrim who pleaded anonymity said the states pilgrim welfare board paid him $1000 Dollars having paid a first class seat which attracts $1500 as BTA.
Another intending pilgrim from Plateau state accused officials of the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board of allegedly cutting his BTA by $250.
Daily Trust reports that pilgrims from Plateau state received a BTA of $750 after paying N1,035,000 for their hajj seats.
When contacted, the board’s Public Relations Officer Wada Haruna denounced the allegations as baseless.
He explained that the pilgrims from Plateau had paid for the lowest seat which cost about N1million adding that the remaining N35,000 covered expenses for local charges which include their uniforms, luggage as well as transportation in Saudi Arabia. 

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/air-peace-boosts-expansion-plan-new-aircraft

Air Peace boosts expansion plan with new aircrafts On August 29, 20165:18 amIn NewsComments Air Peace’s plan to cover more local routes and operate international flights has received a huge boost with the delivery of the new aircraft it recently acquired. Onyeama Onyeama Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Chief Allen Onyema told reporters in Lagos that the airline embarked on the acquisition of more aircrafts to service the local market and international routes it recently got approval for. “We have been designated to fly into Dakar, Senegal, Accra, Ghana, Niamey, Niger; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; and Douala, Cameroun, China, Dubai, India, and South Africa. “One of the new aircraft has the capacity to take 142 passengers, while the other can take 126 passengers. In our fleet, we now have nine Boeing and one Dornier aircraft. Some of the aircraft we will be deployed for the regional routes.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/air-peace-boosts-expansion-plan-new-aircraft/

Air Peace boosts expansion plan with new aircrafts On August 29, 20165:18 amIn NewsComments Air Peace’s plan to cover more local routes and operate international flights has received a huge boost with the delivery of the new aircraft it recently acquired. Onyeama Onyeama Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Chief Allen Onyema told reporters in Lagos that the airline embarked on the acquisition of more aircrafts to service the local market and international routes it recently got approval for. “We have been designated to fly into Dakar, Senegal, Accra, Ghana, Niamey, Niger; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; and Douala, Cameroun, China, Dubai, India, and South Africa. “One of the new aircraft has the capacity to take 142 passengers, while the other can take 126 passengers. In our fleet, we now have nine Boeing and one Dornier aircraft. Some of the aircraft we will be deployed for the regional routes.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/air-peace-boosts-expansion-plan-new-aircraft/

Air Peace boosts expansion plan with new aircrafts On August 29, 20165:18 amIn NewsComments Air Peace’s plan to cover more local routes and operate international flights has received a huge boost with the delivery of the new aircraft it recently acquired. Onyeama Onyeama Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Chief Allen Onyema told reporters in Lagos that the airline embarked on the acquisition of more aircrafts to service the local market and international routes it recently got approval for. “We have been designated to fly into Dakar, Senegal, Accra, Ghana, Niamey, Niger; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; and Douala, Cameroun, China, Dubai, India, and South Africa. “One of the new aircraft has the capacity to take 142 passengers, while the other can take 126 passengers. In our fleet, we now have nine Boeing and one Dornier aircraft. Some of the aircraft we will be deployed for the regional routes. “We have visited the civil aviation and relevant authorities in these countries and plans are at an advanced stage. We will soon announce our commencement dates on these routes, but one thing we want to assure our passengers is that we will put in our cockpit the best of pilots,” Onyema said.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/air-peace-boosts-expansion-plan-new-aircraft/

Air Peace boosts expansion plan with new aircrafts On August 29, 20165:18 amIn NewsComments Air Peace’s plan to cover more local routes and operate international flights has received a huge boost with the delivery of the new aircraft it recently acquired. Onyeama Onyeama Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Chief Allen Onyema told reporters in Lagos that the airline embarked on the acquisition of more aircrafts to service the local market and international routes it recently got approval for. “We have been designated to fly into Dakar, Senegal, Accra, Ghana, Niamey, Niger; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; and Douala, Cameroun, China, Dubai, India, and South Africa. “One of the new aircraft has the capacity to take 142 passengers, while the other can take 126 passengers. In our fleet, we now have nine Boeing and one Dornier aircraft. Some of the aircraft we will be deployed for the regional routes.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/air-peace-boosts-expansion-plan-new-aircraft/

Air Peace boosts expansion plan with new aircrafts On August 29, 20165:18 amIn NewsComments Air Peace’s plan to cover more local routes and operate international flights has received a huge boost with the delivery of the new aircraft it recently acquired. Onyeama Onyeama Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Chief Allen Onyema told reporters in Lagos that the airline embarked on the acquisition of more aircrafts to service the local market and international routes it recently got approval for. “We have been designated to fly into Dakar, Senegal, Accra, Ghana, Niamey, Niger; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; and Douala, Cameroun, China, Dubai, India, and South Africa. “One of the new aircraft has the capacity to take 142 passengers, while the other can take 126 passengers. In our fleet, we now have nine Boeing and one Dornier aircraft. Some of the aircraft we will be deployed for the regional routes. “We have visited the civil aviation and relevant authorities in these countries and plans are at an advanced stage. We will soon announce our commencement dates on these routes, but one thing we want to assure our passengers is that we will put in our cockpit the best of pilots,” Onyema said.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/air-peace-boosts-expansion-plan-new-aircraf

Naira Falls Further to 414/Dollar

 

The naira fell to a new low of 414 against the United States dollar on Sunday amid the continued scarcity of foreign exchange in the country, with economic experts predicting further pressure in the forex market this week.

The development came five days after the Central Bank of Nigeria had banned nine commercial banks from the forex market for failing to remit the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s $2.334bn into the Treasury Single Account in line with President

Muhammadu Buhari’s directive last September.

The naira was sold for 414/dollar across some black market segments in Lagos and Abuja on Sunday. It hit an all-time low of 412 against the greenback at the parallel market on Friday, after closing at 409/dollar on Thursday.

On Wednesday, a day after the CBN banned the nine banks from the forex market, the local currency depreciated to 402/dollar, down from the 397 it closed against the greenback on Tuesday.

http://punchng.com/naira-falls-414dollar

Air Peace boosts expansion plan with new aircrafts On August 29, 20165:18 amIn NewsComments Air Peace’s plan to cover more local routes and operate international flights has received a huge boost with the delivery of the new aircraft it recently acquired. Onyeama Onyeama Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Chief Allen Onyema told reporters in Lagos that the airline embarked on the acquisition of more aircrafts to service the local market and international routes it recently got approval for. “We have been designated to fly into Dakar, Senegal, Accra, Ghana, Niamey, Niger; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; and Douala, Cameroun, China, Dubai, India, and South Africa. “One of the new aircraft has the capacity to take 142 passengers, while the other can take 126 passengers. In our fleet, we now have nine Boeing and one Dornier aircraft. Some of the aircraft we will be deployed for the regional routes. “We have visited the civil aviation and relevant authorities in these countries and plans are at an advanced stage. We will soon announce our commencement dates on these routes, but one thing we want to assure our passengers is that we will put in our cockpit the best of pilots,” Onyema said.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/air-peace-boosts-expansion-plan-new-aircraft/