Nigeria’s Aviation News Headlines for Thursday September 1, 2016

The ‘ember’ months are here and for Nigeria Aviation, it is starting in an unpleasant note! But I believe there is still hope for the industry. Find the headlines below and follow the links to read the stories in full.

Aero Contractors Suspends Operations

Aero

• Airline will bounce back, says management
Aero Contractors Airlines yesterday suspended its scheduled service operations, citing inability to cope with the current harsh economy.
Closure of the 53-year-old airline, the second largest in the country, took effect when its Lagos headquarters was vacated around 2pm.
The airline, however, said the shutdown was temporary, adding it would return to business in the next three to six months.
The Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, said the closure of scheduled flight services was part of strategic business realignment, to reposition the airline and return it to profitability.Akinkuotu said the decision, a result of the current economic situation in the country, had forced some other airlines to suspend operations or pull out of Nigeria outright.
Many passengers had bought tickets to fly Abuja and Sokoto routes. Two hours later, they were seen submitting boarding-passes or evidence of payment for a refund at Aero Contractors’ counter at Murtala Muhammed Airport II (MMA2), Lagos.
The “bad news,” as it was described in the industry yesterday, came just two weeks after FirstNation Airline quietly shutdown operations.

http://guardian.ng/news/aero-contractors-suspends-operations

Aviation Unions React to Aero Contractor’s Suspension of Operations

Leaders of aviation workers’ union have expressed different views on Aero Contractors’ to suspend flight operations from September 1.
Isaac Balami, president, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, applauded the decision.
Mr. Balami, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the decision of the airline was necessary in order not to destroy the safety records it had maintained over the years.
He said it was not reasonable to continue to fly when safety could not be guaranteed, adding that the airline had not carried out proper checks and maintenance because of lack of funds.
According to him, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has been providing lifeline for the airline but has since stopped putting in money.
“Due to the shortage of foreign exchange, about six or seven Aero aircraft have not undergone C-check for some time now which is a serious safety issue.
“There is also the issue of high cost of aviation fuel which has also contributed to the non-profitability of operation.
As a professional in the industry, I believe that safety comes first,” he said.
On the other hand, Benjamin Okewu, president, Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), said the management of Aero did not carry its members along before taking the decision.
Mr. Okewu said that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment had recently asked them to go into negotiation with the airline on the matter.
He said the airline unilaterally took the decision to suspend its operation without consulting the union.
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/209638-aviation-unions-react-aero-contractors-suspension-operations.html

 

FAAN Increases Access Fees at Lagos Airport by 100%

A new parking and access charge is now in place at the cargo terminal of Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, it was learnt yesterday.

Under the new regime, car owners now pay N400 as against N200 they used to pay for accessing the terminal while drivers of SUV jeeps and buses pay N600 as against N400.

The charge is also applicable at the parking lots inside the Hajj camp.

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) commenced the implementation of the new access fees five days ago, according to findings by our correspondent.

Daily Trust observed that the new access fees at the cargo terminal housing the two major aviation handling companies in the country- the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO)- was to take effect on

August 15 but it only commenced five days ago.

However, the toll at the Access Plaza of the airport which is managed by a concessionaire remains stable at N200, N300 and N1000 for car, SUVs and Coaster bus/Truck respectively, it was discovered.

A FAAN staff who spoke with Daily Trust at the terminal confirmed that the access fees has been jacked up by 100 per cent, adding that based on the notice displayed by the management it was supposed to take effect on August 15.

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/business/faan-increases-access-fees-at-lagos-airport-by-100

We do More for Nigeria Than Foreign Airlines – Onyema

 

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.

 Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Chief Allen Onyema told reporters in Lagos that the airline embarked on the acquisition of more aircraft to service local market and international routes it recently got approval for he also said that domestic airline

industry is not getting the right support it need from government.

He lamented that domestic airline industry do more for Nigeria than the foreign airlines. air peace “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 will be deployed for the regional routes.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/we-do-more-for-nigeria-than-foreign-airlines-onyema

Eight Banks Readmitted into FX Market

•  Submit credible repayment plan on NNPC funds

Following the plea by the Body of Banks chief executives and other sectoral groups, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Wednesday lifted its suspension of eight banks from participating in the foreign exchange market.

The eight banks were suspended after failing to return a total of $1.8 billion Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Company dollar deposits to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) as directed by the federal

government.

The banks affected by the sanction are First Bank of Nigeria, Diamond Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank, Fidelity Bank Plc, Keystone Bank, Skye Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc and Heritage Bank.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/09/01/eight-banks-readmitted-into-fx-market

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/business/cbn-lifts-forex-ban-on-9-banks-as-naira-hits-423-a-dollar/160911.html

Naira Sinks to Record Low at N420 Against Dollar

 

The continued scarcity of foreign exchange on Wednesday pushed the naira to an all-time-low of 420 against the United States dollar at the parallel market.
The currency hit its record low the same day that data released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the economy was in recession.
The naira has continued to weaken in the parallel market, defying attempts by monetary authorities to reverse its slide.
For instance, the CBN had on June 20 lifted its 16-month-old currency controls and auctioned about $4bn on the spot and futures market to clear a backlog of dollar demand, to help boost interbank market trading.
On Tuesday, the naira had dipped to 418 against the dollar at the parallel market, a day it closed at 414.
Some analysts expressed concern about the likely impact of the NBS report, which painted a negative picture of the economy, on the currency and investment.
http://punchng.com/naira-sinks-record-low-n420-dollar
http://leadership.ng/news/548741/naira-hits-n420-at-parallel-market-as-cbns-interventions-eat-up-reserves