Aviation
Virgin ups competitive threat to BA
LAGOS-The United Kingdom carrier with operations into Nigeria, Virgin Atlantic will start to take delivery of twenty one Boeing 787 aircraft in matter of weeks according to the Financial Times.
The Boeing 787 will primarily be replacements for its Airbus A340 aircraft some of which fly the London-Lagos and London-Abuja routes.
The 787s are more fuel efficient than the A340s, and therefore should be an important part of Virgin’s efforts to return to profit.
Virgin plans to invest £300m in a number of customer service improvements such as putting WiFi on its aircraft and building an airport lounge in Los Angeles.
These are part of plans by Virgin to scale its competition with British Airways and return to profit.
Virgin Atlantic also plansto increase flying on its core transatlantic routes, as Sir Richard Branson’s airline seeks to mount a stronger competitive threat to British Airways and return to profit.
From next summer, Virgin will increase frequencies on routes between London and New York and Los Angeles, and add new services such as Detroit. It will drop flights to Tokyo’s Narita, Mumbai, Vancouver and Cape Town.
The changes to Virgin’s network are designed to maximise the benefits of the carrier’s partnership with Delta Air Lines, which bought a 49 per cent stake in the UK airline last year. The two airlines have a joint venture on transatlantic routes, similar to a partnership between British Airways and American Airlines.
Craig Kreeger, Virgin Atlantic’s chief executive, said the network changes were “a big deal for us”.
“It allows us to continue to capitalise on the growth we are seeing from routes in transatlantic,” he added.
“We are on track for becoming profitable this year. It is a sign that we moving into a success phase, allowing us to grow in time.”
Virgin has been lossmaking for two years. It halved its pre-tax losses in 2013 to £51m, down from £102m a year earlier, and lifted revenues 4.9 per cent to £2.98bn.
The 500 additional flights planned for next summer will be a 4-5 per cent increase on the same period this year, and are expected to attract a mix of leisure and business travellers.
This spring the European Commission began an investigation into Delta’s stake in Virgin, after allegations that the UK airline was effectively being controlled by the US carrier.
Mr Kreeger dismissed the allegations. “I have no concerns,” he said. “I’m quite confident that with all the conversations I’ve had with government officials, we are genuinely governed in accordance with control processes.”
Delta paid $360m to buy its Virgin Atlantic stake from Singapore Airlines. Sir Richard retains a 51 per cent stake in the UK carrier.
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An Abuja-Accra flight experienced technical difficulties mid-air on Friday, forcing it to return to Abuja, shortly after departure.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Board (NSIB) made the disclosure in a statement, adding that it has launched investigation into what it described as a serious accident.
Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB, Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji stated that preliminary investigations revealed the aircraft experienced an engine number two indication issue.
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It was gathered that the aircraft, with registration number 5NKAL which was operating a flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja (DNAA), to Kotoka International Airport, Accra (DGAA).
She explained that four persons were onboard when the incident occurred. The crew immediately requested for a diversion back to Abuja due to the engine indication.
Oladeji added that the crew managed to safely land the aircraft at Abuja Airport at 18:16 UTC.
There were no injuries reported, and all individuals on board are safe.
Nigeria has acquired 12 pre-owned Alpha Jets from the French Air Force as part of efforts to enhance the operational capacity of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
The deal, facilitated through SOFEMA, a French military and aeronautics company, was announced by Olusegun Dada, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on via X on Thursday.
He said, “All the 12 aircraft are ready for shipping.”
The Alpha Jet, a product of Franco-German collaboration, is a versatile military aircraft designed for light attack and advanced training missions.
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Equipped to carry bombs, rockets, and missiles, the aircraft also features a gun pod for close air support.
The NAF already operates 11 Alpha Jets, but this latest procurement signals a significant boost to its fleet.
Dada also confirmed that the Air Force is expecting 24 M-346FA light attack aircraft, ordered during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The first batch of these Italian-made aircraft is expected to arrive early next year.
Air Chief Marshal Hasan Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff, described the acquisitions as a testament to President Tinubu’s commitment to bolstering the armed forces.
“This renewal of our aircraft fleet reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Nigerians,” Abubakar said.
The announcement comes on the heels of President Tinubu’s three-day state visit to France, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The visit, which took place from November 27 to November 30, highlighted deepening ties between the two nations.
To ensure the sustainability of its expanding fleet, the Air Force has proposed establishing a local maintenance hub.
Speaking in October, Abubakar noted that six units of the M-346FA aircraft were already in production, with the initial batch of three expected to be delivered in early 2025. The full fleet is projected to arrive by 2026.
“These developments underscore the importance of creating a domestic support system for the long-term upkeep of our aircraft,” Abubakar added.
As the holiday season draws near, Aero Contractors has introduced a minimum ticket price of N80,000 for all local flights.
The move, which will last until January 2024, aims to ease the financial burden on Nigerians amid the high cost of living.
Ado Sanusi, Managing Director of Aero Contractors, made the announcement on Tuesday during a press briefing, describing the fare reduction as a gesture to help Nigerians celebrate Christmas and the New Year without the stress of steep ticket prices.
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Sanusi said, “We understand the economic hardship Nigerians are facing, especially with high ticket prices, and we know the holiday season is nearby.
“In the spirit of Christmas, Aero Contractors has introduced what we call pocket-friendly Christmas prices. These fares, starting at N80,000, will apply to all our destinations, allowing Nigerians to travel without excessive costs.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, an economy class ticket from Lagos to Abuja was priced at N99,643, while business class tickets were being sold for N189,167.
Sanusi further explained that the initiative was designed to make it easier for families to reunite during the holidays.
“This is a way for us, as an organization with a long history of serving Nigerians, to give back to our loyal customers. We want to make it possible for families to meet their loved ones during this festive season without worrying about exorbitant travel costs,” he added.
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