Aviation
Delta airline to suspend flight operations into Abuja airport
Delta Air Lines, one of the two United States of America airlines flying into the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, may soon suspend its flight operations due to the increase in the price of JET A1 otherwise known as aviation fuel in the country.
By Oyise Oghene
Delta Air Lines, one of the two United States of America airlines flying into the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, may soon suspend its flight operations due to the increase in the price of JET A1 otherwise known as aviation fuel in the country.
Biztellers gathered that the fluctuating passenger traffic in Abuja was also responsible for the suspension of the flight to the airport by the airline management.
Biztellers further gathered that the airline will be making its’ last eastbound service on the 27th August, 2012 while last westbound service would be on 28 August, 2012.
However, the source said that the airline would continue to operate a daily nonstop service from Lagos to Atlanta, adding that any passenger who requested for a refund would be obliged by the airline.
For those who had booked beyond the suspension date, the airline said that, “Passengers and cargo shippers impacted by the change will be given the option of being re-accommodated on Delta’s nonstop service from Lagos to the United States or on flights operated by Delta’s joint venture partner Air France who operate daily service between Abuja and the U.S. via Paris CDG.”
Delta for about two years running has been operating direct flight operations to New York JFK from Abuja while it commenced the Lagos-Atlanta flight operations in December 2006.
It will be recalled that the skyrocketing price of Jet A1 has become a major issue among airline operators in the domestic scene in the past 24 months.
Just recently, the General Secretary of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Capt. Mohamemd Joji disclosed that the price of Jet A1 has increased by 62, 000 per cent in the country in the last two decades.
According to Joji, a litre of aviation fuel in the 90s was 31k, but is today N170 and N190 per litre depending on the litres and the airport an airline is buying from.
Captain Joji further decried that the skyrocketed increased of 62,000 per cent was the highest anywhere in the world and described the situation as disgusting and unacceptable to the operators.
He said, “There is no where in the world that the percentage of aviation fuel has increased to that level in the spate of two decades. This can only happen in Nigeria and no one is blinking an eye. This situation is not helping the Nigerian airline operators to grow. The government is not assisting us and this is quite most unfortunate.”
He posited that despite the massive increase in the price of the product per litre, the operators had not increased the airfares by 62, 000 per cent, maintaining that if they do, the volume of passengers patronising air transport in the country would reduce.
Aviation
Akwa Ibom Boosts Ibom Air Fleet With Two New Aircraft
In a bold step to strengthen Akwa Ibom’s position in Nigeria’s aviation industry, Governor Umo Eno announced the addition of two new Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft to the fleet of the state-owned airline, Ibom Air, on Friday.
The two aircraft, registered as 5N-CED and 5N-CEE, mark a milestone in the state’s commitment to strategic investment, with the governor stressing that the acquisitions were fully funded by state resources without loans from financial institutions.
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At a welcoming ceremony attended by local officials and residents, Governor Eno emphasized his administration’s mission to drive revenue-generating ventures for Akwa Ibom rather than relying on debt.
He called the move a step toward breaking the cycle of government investments that only serve to pay off loans, vowing that the state’s funds would go towards projects that bring returns to the people.
The governor challenged Ibom Air to turn a profit by 2025, stating that the airline’s management should ensure routes in and out of Uyo remain dependable to prioritize the needs of Akwa Ibom travelers.
“As long as I remain governor, we will continue to use state funds for the benefit of all, not for private gain,” he said, noting that his administration aims to ensure that public investments deliver real value to the state.
Governor Eno also provided updates on several ambitious state projects, including an 18-story commercial complex underway in Lagos and an upcoming 4-star hotel in Abuja, both designed to generate revenue for Akwa Ibom.
Plans for an international market in Ikot Ekpene and the phased opening of a new terminal at the Victor Attah International Airport were also announced, with the airport terminal set for partial operation by December and full activation in early 2025.
Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, commended Eno’s financial management, highlighting that the administration has avoided seeking loans over the past 18 months despite launching significant development projects.
Ibom Air’s Chairman, Pastor Imoabasi Jacob, expressed appreciation for the state’s investment in the airline, which has seen its fleet grow to nine aircraft.
Jacob credited the governor’s support with enabling Ibom Air to boost flight capacity, meeting demand on popular routes such as Uyo-Lagos-Abuja.
Captain Mfon Udom, CEO of Ibom Air, stated that the expanded fleet will improve efficiency and allow the airline to scale up its operations in time for the Christmas travel season.
Udom also noted that the airline anticipates the delivery of nine additional Airbus planes, which will further strengthen Ibom Air’s market presence.
Traditional leaders, including HRM Edidem Ita Edet Okokon III of Okobo Local Government Area, lauded the governor’s leadership, pledging continued support from the traditional institutions.
Anie Essienette, Group Manager for Marketing and Communications at Ibom Air, noted that demand for the airline’s services has surged nationwide, with the new CRJ900 aircraft helping meet this increasing need while the airline awaits further fleet expansion.
Aviation
BREAKING: Private Air Strip Owners Pay Handsomely – Keyamo
Nigeria’s Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo is of the view that there’s no cause for alarm over the approval of a private airstrip for a religious organisation, which attracted the attention of the House of Representatives.
He took to his verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Friday morning to shed light on the subject, and explained that it could be a great source of revenue for Federal Government.
Keyamo asserted that the issue was raised by an honourable member at plenary, out of ignorance, but was “unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee to look into.”
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Keyamo expressed confidence that by the time his Ministry was done enlightening them, “they will be satisfied”.
He added that “the privates air strip owners pay the Federal Government handsomely for these services.”
Keyamo wrote, “I think this is not correct. The House of Reps. as a body did not call on the Minister to revoke the license of any private airstrip.
“I think what happened is that someone moved a motion in that regard and it was unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee to look into it.
“Whilst the intention of the Hon. Member who moved it is very patriotic, it was based on a complete lack of knowledge of the aviation sector.
“By the time we explain to them how private air strips work and the processes they undergo by our agencies before the final approval, they will be satisfied.
“The responsibility of the owners of private air strips is just to build the runway and terminal building. But after they build the control tower in particular, it is completely handed over to the Federal Government through NAMA (Nigerian Airspace Management Agency) which is in complete control of the entire airspace in Nigeria. An MOU is usually signed with NAMA in this regard before the airstrip is approved for operations.
“It is NAMA that provides the Air Traffic Controllers and Engineers in ALL AIRPORTS and AIRSTRIPS IN NIGERIA. And the privates air strip owners pay the Federal Government handsomely for these services.
“No object flies into Nigeria without the prior clearance by NAMA and without filing a clear flight plan, eg, where it is taking off from and where it intends to land.
“And I have recently directed that all aircraft coming into the country MUST first land at our international airports where they would be properly processed and checked before they make their local flights into whatever airport or airstrip they intend to go. So, it is COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY impossible for any private airstrip owner to just jump on an aircraft and fly in and out of the country through that facility. The Federal Government does not permit that. You will not be cleared for take off or landing without prior request and authorisation.
“I thank the Member for his patriotism, but I wish he contacted us first to explain to him before rushing to move such a motion.
“I attach herewith for public consumption the NAMA Act that gives exclusive control of the Nigerian airspace to the Federal Government through NAMA.”
Aviation
Helicopter Crash: Search Still On-going, No Additional Bodies Found
The NNPC Ltd has clarified that beyond the three bodies found in the ill-fated helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation that crashed on Thursday in Port Harcourt, no other bodies have been recovered.
This was contained in a statement in Abuja on Sunday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye.
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“The Company further notes that intensified search and rescue operations for the remaining bodies along with relevant authorities is still ongoing.
“Once again, our hearts and prayers are with family members of this unfortunate incident,” the statement added.