Airlines Archives - Inside Business Africa

May82021 by Joshua OlotuNo Comments

Airlines record 73% traffic slump amid restrictions, quarantine

Aviation

Airlines in Nigeria and other African countries have recorded 73.7 per cent slump in passenger traffic for the month of March 2021. The downturn, though a global trend, is not unconnected with travel restrictions and quarantine in many countries. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), in the March passenger traffic survey released yesterday, showed that African airlines’ traffic sank by 73.7 per cent in March versus March two years ago, marking a deterioration compared to a 72.3 per cent decline recorded in February compared to February 2019. Globally, total demand for air travel was down 67.2 per cent compared to March 2019. That was an improvement over the 74.9 per cent decline recorded in February 2021 versus February 2019. The better performance was driven by gains in...

Apr302021 by Joshua OlotuNo Comments

Local airlines to roll out common ticket under interline pact

Aviation

Two local carriers have entered into a rare interlining arrangement that offers customers the benefit of the two airlines, using a single ticket. The Guardian learnt that the partnership is between Dana and Ibom Air, and is set to roll out in May.The pact is the first time indigenous carriers have heeded aviation experts’ advice for competing airlines to interline, and make the most of available customers to cut operational wastage and losses.An interline flight is an agreement between airlines to coordinate passengers with an itinerary that uses multiple airlines, without having to check in again or deal with their baggage at the stopover. x The Chief Operating Officer of Ibom Air, George Uriesi, yesterday, gave a hint on the partnership. Uriesi, who spoke at the quarterly meeting of...

Mar242021 by Joshua OlotuNo Comments

Airlines plan ‘travel pass’ for travellers

Aviation

•Accept PCR results from approved labs only, NCAA directs carriersAirlines are considering a standard ‘travel pass’ criteria for international air travellers in the COVID-19 era. Though the technology-driven pass aims at an efficient travel experience, part of the conditions will include health credentials and COVID-19 vaccination. Similarly, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) has directed that only results from accredited private laboratories should be accepted from outbound passengers effective March 22, 2021. Hence, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has threatened to sanction airlines that accept polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results from unapproved laboratories. The travel pass proposal made headway when the International Air Transport Association (IAT...

Jul172020 by Joshua OlotuNo Comments

Airlines cancel flights over low patronage, apathy

Aviation

A number of flights were yesterday and Wednesday cancelled over low patronage on some of the recently opened routes. Following the early success on the Lagos and Abuja corridors, more airports have resumed operations but without the airlines having flights on the routes. The Guardian learnt that although Kaduna Airport has resumed, it was yet to receive flights. At least three airlines cancelled their sole flight to Kaduna yesterday, just like on Wednesday, due to low passenger turnout. The Maiduguri Airport, according to the Federal Government’s reopening plan, was cleared as of last Saturday. It also had its scheduled flights cancelled. The Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, has been having few flight services, but with a very limited number of passengers. Operat...

Jun252020 by Joshua OlotuNo Comments

Long-haul records zero traffic as foreign airlines resume

Aviation

Travellers’ apathy has welcomed long-distance international travels, as more foreign airlines resume operations globally. The development is not unconnected with fears of coronavirus infections, the luxury of leisure travel during the recession, and tedious safety protocols like mandatory 14-day quarantine still in place at many destinations. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), however, urged governments to embrace the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) harmonised safety guidelines that include the use of face masks as a better alternative to quarantine and physical distancing onboard the airplane. IATA, the clearinghouse for over 280 airlines worldwide, disclosed that the demand for long-haul travel remains close to zero. The forwar...

Jun252020 by Joshua OlotuNo Comments

Airlines seek flight resumption as NCAA submits findings today

Aviation

Local airlines have urged the Federal Government and the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 to reopen the airspace for airlines and airports that have satisfied safety protocol to begin operations. The carriers, under the aegis of Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), said more days were bound to be wasted and revenues lost should the system wait for every stakeholder to be ready. The appeal was made on the heels of the disclosure that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), was concluding its findings and would submit recommendations to the PTF today. AON Chairman, Capt. Nogie Meggison, at a webinar forum for aviation stakeholders, said a restart date would spur more stakeholders to intensify preparations and save newer investments recently made by the airlines. ...

Jun232020 by Joshua OlotuNo Comments

Long-haul records zero traffic as foreign airlines resume

Aviation

Travellers’ apathy has welcomed long-distance international travels, as more foreign airlines resume operations globally. The development is not unconnected with fears of coronavirus infections, the luxury of leisure travel during the recession, and tedious safety protocols like mandatory 14-day quarantine still in place at many destinations. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), however, urged governments to embrace the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) harmonised safety guidelines that include the use of face masks as a better alternative to quarantine and physical distancing onboard the airplane. IATA, the clearinghouse for over 280 airlines worldwide, disclosed that the demand for long-haul travel remains close to zero. The forwar...

Jun132020 by Joshua OlotuNo Comments

50 per cent of airlines to go bankrupt without bailout supports by July end

Aviation, Business

At least one in every two airlines is now at risk of collapse given the dearth of lifesaving financial supports, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has said. IATA, the clearing house for over 280 airlines globally, said time was running out on urgent and desperate measures to save the airlines before July month-end. While airlines in Nigeria are not an exception in the dire financial crisis facing the global aviation industry, a local carrier, Ibom Air, yesterday, appeared to be heading for safety. The Akwa Ibom State Government moved to rescue the airlines with an undisclosed bailout package. The IATA’s Director of Advocacy and Strategy, Africa, Funke Adeyemi, at a webinar forum, said the Association is working hard to get African Heads of State and organisat...

Apr182020 by Joshua OlotuNo Comments

IATA Predicts 55% Drop in Airlines’ Revenue

Business

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released updated analysis showing that the COVID-19 crisis is estimated to see airlines’ passenger revenue drop by $314 billion in 2020, a 55 per cent decline compared to 2019. This is just as IATA said government’s financial relief for airlines would be critical policy measure to safe the airlines. On March 24, IATA had estimated $252 billion in lost revenues (-44 per cent vs. 2019) in a scenario with severe travel restrictions lasting three months. The world body said the updated figures reflected a significant deepening of the crisis since then and reflected parameters which included: severe domestic restrictions lasting three months, some restrictions on international travel extending beyond the initial three months, worl...