Airport Reporters

  Ilorin Aviation College graduates  pilots …As Deputy Gov. asks council chairmen to sponsor students The International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin , Kwara State has  graduated four students who completed their various courses of study. While one of the graduands obtained Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), Instrument Rating and Multi-Engine, the remaining three bagged Private Pilot Licence (PPL). This is coming about a month after five newly graduated pilots were decorated by the college, increasing the number of pilots produced from March 2022 till date to 31.  Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq at the graduation ceremony reiterated his commitment to the continued funding and support for the college to contribute its quota to manpower development in the aviation industry. Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tertiary Education, Hajia Habeeba Saidu, the government commended the college management and staff for their dedication.  He charg...

  FAAN,  Avia Cargo committee partners Customs on export  The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN Aviacargo Roadmap Committee recently paid a visit to the Lily Pond Nigeria Customs Area Command office Apapa, Lagos to seek partnership and suggestions in addressing the challenges militating against Avia Cargo export in Nigeria. The Committee led by its Coordinator, Mr. Ikechi Uko while explaining the purpose of their visit said, there is no reason why Nigeria as the largest producer of Agric produce cannot be the number one Avia Cargo hub in Africa but unfortunately, the country is not due to certain impediments which must be addressed. He said, Kenya is number one in Avia Cargo in Africa and Nigeria is five, stressing that, if Nigeria is the largest producer of Agro-produce why is Nigeria not number one?. "Nigeria doesn't export much. In Avia Cargo Nigeria is number five, number one is Kenya, number two is Egypt, number three is South Africa, four is Ethiopia a...

Union canvasses  survival pills for Arik Air  The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE ) , has prescribed survival pills to bail out struggle carrier - Arik Air out of the doldrums. The union said given the parlous state of affairs - over N240 billion debt overhang, depleting fleet and other challenges the once strong carrier is tottering towards liquidation.  To stave off closing down the carrier , NUATE has called on the Receiver Manager appointed by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON ) to sink their difference and embrace cooperation to bail the carrier of the woods. Speaking at a briefing in Lagos,  yesterday NUATE's General Secretary,  Comrade Ocheme Aba called on the warring  parties for the ownership of Arik Air to sheath their swords for the continued existence of the airline.  Aba  said, if the airline is destroyed with the ongoing legal battle by the Receiver Manager, Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON...

 Investors decry inability to secure land at airports  for MRO facilities   Investors in the Nigeria’s aviation industry have  decried the inability to secure  land  at Nigerian airports to build a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul ( MRO) facilities in the country.  Efforts to secure space for aircraft repair facilities , they said is stalled  by  bureaucracy and   attendant prohibitive cost  associated with such acquisition. Founder of a charter airline - Musa Adede and Chairman of Air Peace , Allen Onyema disclosed this yesterday in Lagos. They made the disclosure at the  Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative  Q2 2023 Brunch Business Meeting. Aligning their thoughts with the theme of the meeting ;" Aviation Reset : Agenda for a New Administration ",  Adede and Onyema admitted that  majority of  the challenges airlines gace in Nigeria stem from the fact that a lot of services are done overseas and paid ...

  Green Africa Secures Additional Aircraft from Jump Air   Green Africa, Nigeria's value airline, and Jump Air have announced a partnership on an additional aircraft (ATR72-500). Structured as a damp lease, the additional aircraft will offer Green Africa bridge capacity to grow its fleet to four aircraft and support the airline’s planned expansion. Subject to regulatory approvals, the additional aircraft is scheduled to enter into service during Q3 2023.   Babawande Afolabi, Founder & CEO of Green Africa, said, “Green Africa is on track for its next phase of growth. We are pleased to welcome the aircraft from Jump Air which will help strengthen some of our existing routes while also spreading the reach of Green Africa to serve customers across the country.”   Dovydas Jurgelevicius, Accountable Manager of Jump Air, commented, “Green Africa has built a strong foundation since entering service in 2021. We are proud to support Green Africa’s expansion as ...

  Wall of Fame: Air Peace to Honour 1976 Olympics Team, 1980 Green Eagles Forty-seven years after Nigeria led other 27 African countries to boycott the 1976 Olympic Montreal Games in Canada, the Team Nigeria athletes who were denied lifetime opportunities to become Olympians and medalists will be honoured on July 28, 2023. Also, the 1980 AFCON winning squad will be honoured with listing in the newly created Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame in addition to cash rewards from the Chairman, Air Peace, Barrister Allen Onyema. At a media parley held in Lagos on Sunday, July 9, 2023, to unveil plans to honour these former footballers and athletes who sacrificed their lives for the country, Onyema stressed that he is motivated to carry out the Wall of Fame project as a way to honour the athletes for their huge sacrifices. “We promised to build a Wall of fame where their names will be written in gold. I also enjoin other corporate organisations and we...

  Airbus inaugurates new Toulouse A320 Family final assembly line Airbus has inaugurated its new A320 Family final assembly line (FAL) in Toulouse during a ceremony attended by French Minister of Economy & Finance Bruno Le Maire, French Transport Minister Clément Beaune, Minister of State for Industry Roland Lescure, and Minister of State for Territorial Collectivities and Rural Affairs Dominique Faure, as well as hundreds of Airbus employees. “The inauguration of this new A321-capable final assembly line in Toulouse represents another milestone in the ongoing modernisation of our global industrial system. This FAL will contribute to the ongoing production rate ramp-up to 75 A320 Family aircraft per month in 2026, while meeting the increased demand for A321s which currently represents around 60 percent of the total A320 Family backlog,” said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. “We’re pleased to see this new facility join our worldwide network of final assembly sites which will comprise...

  Emirates Excites air travelers  with the launch of regional charter service offering flexibility and comfort Emirates has launched an on-demand regional charter service, offering flexibility, convenience, privacy and comfort for customers who want to make short trips in the GCC from Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Operated by the airline’s Phenom 100 twin-engine aircraft, customers can fly to a wide range of GCC destinations both within and outside of the Emirates network, with quick turnarounds to points in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and within the UAE.   The aircraft reportedly seats up to four passengers, and travelers on the short flights will be offered a well-stocked hamper of light bites and refreshments. Each passenger can check in one medium-sized bag weighing up to 15 kilograms, in addition to a carry-on handbag. Customers are encouraged to consult with their assigned booking representative or travel agent if they have a...

 Air Peace to offer lifetime tickets to sports heroes  Air Peace Airlines said it has concluded plans to offer 24 return tickets to contingents - sportsmen - who participated in the Montreal Olympics of 1996 and the team that represented Nigeria in the 1980 African Cup of Nation (AFCON). The gesture by the carrier, according to its Chairman, Chief Allen Onyema, was part of efforts to reward patriots who have done the nation proud in sporting activities in their prime. Speaking at a briefing in Lagos at the weekend, the airline chief executive said he was moved to consider how to reward the sports legend for their contributions to national development. To drive the reward initiative, Onyema said the carrier will unveil the sportsmen as Air Peace Sports Diplomatic Ambassadors at an investiture scheduled for July 28, 2023 at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, (NIIA), Lagos. Describing the role of the sportsmen that boycotted the Olympics 1966 in Montreal, Canad...

 Red Star Express Plc gets IFC ,  Nigerian Stock Exchange recognition for gender equality Red Star Express Plc, a foremost courier and logistics company in Nigeria, has been honored with prestigious awards for its remarkable achievements in promoting gender equality. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), in collaboration with the Nigeria Exchange Group (NGX), recognized Red Star Express Plc's outstanding participation in the esteemed 2021-2023 Nigeria2Equal program. The joint IFC and NGX award was presented at the Nigeria2Equal Gender Leaders Awards, held recently at the Eko Convention Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos.   Red Star Express Plc was commended for its unwavering commitment to fostering the growth of women within the organization, particularly in leadership positions. This recognition highlights the company's dedication to creating a more diverse and inclusive work environment. Mr. Auwalu Babura, the Chief Executive Officer of Red Star Express Plc, expre...