FAAN advices cargo flight operators

Because of the backlog caused with the closure of the cargo terminal at the airport recently, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is advising operators of all cargo flights to find alternative entry points for their cargo rather than through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. According to a statement signed by Yakubu Dati, General Manager Corporate Communications of FAAN,

“Already, FAAN has advised the Nigerian Airspace Manager Agency to issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to this effect.

This has become imperative due to the congestion created by the backlog of cargo created following the two-week closure of the terminal by the Nigerian Customs Service.”

Dati said the  authority has initiated measures to accelerate the clearance of these goods and return the situation to normalcy. Airlines and importers are advised to make use of alternative airports.

The Authority is constrained to take this measure for the time being for the safety and security of all concerned and that the inconvenience this might cause is highly regretted.

Arik Air launches new travel package

Arik Air, West and Central Africa’s largest carrier, has once again expanded its horizon in the Travel Business with the launch of Arik Explorer; a ‘travel package’ product which incorporates airline seats with hotel and other ancillary options like car hire and travel insurance.

Arik Explorer, which was launched in Lagos at the weekend as a subsidiary of Arik Air, offers travel package at two levels: ‘Premium’ and ‘Affordable’. The offering will be for both outbound and inbound travel from Lagos and other destinations serviced by Arik Air. Varieties of Packages can be tailored to suit the needs of the airline’s guests.

According to the Managing Director of Arik Explorer, Mr. Kencho Omojafor, the business strategy of the company will revolve around the need to provide quality service to the various target customers with the view to fully satisfy their needs.

This will be undertaken through the recruitment of a professional team and the provision of good quality custom-designed travel packages, catering to the guest's particular needs.

“We will continuously provide enjoyable quality excursions/trips/hotels on time and on budget, develop enthusiastically satisfied customers all of the time, and establish a market presence that assures short-term and long-term profitability, growth and success”.

Arik Explorer’s product will be segmented into; premium market searching for luxury and convenience,  affordable weekend packages and short breaks during the week, special interest packages including group bookings, company retreats as well as business and leisure travellers to Arik Air destinations.

“Arik Explorer will establish a reputation as a differentiated, specialty provider of city/adventure travel and excursions. We will also provide unparalleled service to our local and international tourists, to Nigeria, The West Coast and beyond”, Omojafor stressed.

Arik Explorer’s internet booking functionality will enable its hotel partners to upload rooms and vehicles on the company’s website in real time. Customers will also have the option of using the company’s mobile application software to book rooms with their mobile phones and tablets.

“We are fully committed to supporting growth and development in the tourism industry and contribute positively to the community” Omojafor added.

SAHCOL relocates headoffice …opens new lounge at MMIA

SAHCOL's new head office

The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL has relocated its Head Office to a new Corporate Headquarters located at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Cargo Complex.

According to a statement from the company, “This is a remarkable development in the life of the growing fortune of SAHCOL, as it is the first time the Management of the company is being housed in one edifice, after the fire incident that gutted the warehouse/Offices of the Company, on November 21, 2002.This is a further confirmation that Privatization is paying off for SAHCOL, as less than five Years of handling over SAHCOL to SIFAX Group, the Company started and completed the construction of a befitting Corporate Headquarters.”

Reminiscence  the achievement of the organization, the company said iIn the five Years of SIFAX GROUP involvement in SAHCOL, through the Board Chairman, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi  the Ground Handling Company has experienced massive purchase/deployment of Modern State-of-the-art equipment, constant training for all staff, international Certification/Recertification, Construction of a world class fully automated Cargo Warehouse, Boost of client confidence leading to increase in number of clientele, and increase in the staff strength.

SAHCOL new lounge

Meanwhile, still running with the vision to provide outstanding Services to the travelling Public, SAHCOL has reconstructed and opened an exceptionally unique Lounge to the public.

The Lounge which is located at the sterile area of the departure hall of  the Murtala Muhammed International Airport provides an exquisite and relaxed atmosphere for airline customers, paying close attention to their needs to ensure their conformability, while providing an avenue to escape from the usual hustle and bustle of busy airport terminals, with an environment where you can relax and unwind before boarding your flight.

SAHCOL is an ISAGO certified Aviation Ground Handling Company, with significant presence in all commercially operated airports in Nigeria. Its duties includes Passenger Handling, Ramp Handling, Cargo Handling/Warehousing, Aviation Security, Baggage Reconciliation, Crew Bus and Executive Lounge Services, as well as other related ground handling Services.

SAHCOL has successfully established a strong market presence in the domestic and international airline ground handling industry, with peerless expertise in providing exceptional Passenger, Ramp and Cargo/Warehousing services.

 Owing to the boost in confidence, SAHCOL now provides ground handling services to some of the world best airlines, amongst which are Arik Air, Emirates Airlines ,United Airlines, Air France, Middle East Airlines (MEA), Allied Air, Aero Contractors Airline, Dana Air, Sudan Air, African Open Sky Airlines, Med-view Airlines, Camair-Co, South African Airways, Etihad Airways, Atlas Jet Airlines, Max Air, Kabo Air, African Word Airways (AWA), Gambia Bird Airlines, AZMAN Air, Discovery Air, Ethiopian Air and other ad-hoc operators.

This has made SAHCOL a reference point where efficiency of a successful flight is born in the Nigerian Aviation sector.

Air Liberalization: “It is time for Africa nations to open their skies to each other in order to realize the untapped social and economic benefits Africa is missing out on” – IATA

L-R: Trevor Henry AVP Arik Air, Samson Fatokun Country Manager IATA, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi Director, Consumer protection Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Adefunke Adeyemi Regional Head, Member &External Relations Africa& Middle East IATA, Chief John Adebanjo West Africa  Group Rep. Virgin Atlantic at the Intra-African Air Connectivity presentation at the Protea Hotel Ikoyi

Despite African countries’ adoption of the Yamoussoukro Decision in 1999, the implementation has been slow and the immense benefits have not been realized. On the 11^th of December at the Protea Hotel, Ikoyi Westwood, IATA’s Regional Head of Member and External Relations for Africa and Middle East - Adefunke Adeyemi, examined the need for African countries to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities available, but remain untapped, due to poor connectivity amongst African States.

Africa is a continent of over 1 billion people with a huge geographical spread that is largely land-locked. Given the lack of robust alternative infrastructure that traverses the continent (road, rail, water), aviation is the effective way to get around Africa. Unfortunately, Africa is not well connected in terms of air services. In many cases, the only way to get to countries in Africa is to travel for days or through other continents. This lack of connectivity is making Africa lose out immensely on socio-economic benefits and growth opportunities.

In collaboration with some of its regional partners across Africa, IATA commissioned a study early this year on how Africa’s socio-economic prospects can be transformed through enhanced connectivity. The study looks at 12 countries across Africa, and quantifies the numerous benefits that would accrue to those countries, their sub-regions and Africa as a whole, if they were to fully open their skies to connect with each other. The 12 nations in the report are: Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda.  The study shows that full air connectivity across those 12 countries would generate an additional $1.3bn in GDP, over 150,000 new jobs and numerous other socio-economic benefits in just those 12 countries. Imagine what this could mean if all 54 countries in Africa opened up to each other. It would be a game changer!

A potential five million passengers a year are being denied the chance to travel between these markets because of unnecessary restrictions on air routes. 

The study was launched this year in Johannesburg on the 18^th of August and Adefunke Adeyemi is spearheading the roll out and advocacy of the study’s results across Africa.

Aviation already supports 6.9 million jobs and more than $80 billion in GDP across Africa. The IATA report clearly demonstrates that liberalization will create opportunities for further significant employment growth and economic development. The jobs and GDP impact for the 12 countries in the study are listed in the table below.

NATION             ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT        ADDITIONAL GDP (USD MILLIONS)

 Algeria                                 11,100                                                   123.6

 Angola                                 15,300                                                   137.1

 Egypt                                    11,300                                                   114.2

 Ethiopia                               14,800                                                   59.8

 Ghana                                  9,500                                                     46.8

 Kenya                                  15,900                                                   76.9

 Namibia                              10,600                                                   94.2

 Nigeria                                 17,400                                                   128.2

 Senegal                               8,000                                                     40.5

 South Africa                      14,500                                                   283.9

 Tunisia                                 8,100                                                     113.7

 Uganda                               18,600                                                   77.6

The study clearly highlights the crucial role air transport plays in driving economic and social development in Africa through enhanced connectivity. Governments should support the growth of the industry by fully liberalizing African skies as intended by the Yamoussoukro Decision.

Given that a better connected Africa will increase the GDP of all countries in Africa, Finance and Tourism sectors across the continent should be interested. Given it will help create new jobs, politicians should be interested in making true connectivity across Africa a reality. Given it will help move over 1bn people across the continent, education and health sectors should be interested. Given it facilitates the deployment of food and aid, agriculture and civil society should be interested. Given it helps facilitate transfer of services, goods and technology, business and private enterprise should be interested. And finally, given it will provide the end users – passengers and freight forwarders - more choice, lower fares, time savings, improved efficiency, better products, increased competition and sheer convenience, in other words, better value for money, everyone should be interested. 

Arik Air increases frequencies to 140 ahead festive seasons

Arik Air aircraft

As a result of the high movement of passengers during the yuletide period, Arik Air has  announced through a statement plans to provide extra flights to key domestic destinations in response to yearnings of guests wishing to travel to various destinations across the country to celebrate Christmas and New Year period with family and friends.

The additional flights will cover the period from December 19 -24, 2014. Instead of the average 120 daily flights normally operated by Arik Air, the airline will during the festive period increase its daily flights to an average of 140.

In his response, Arik Air Managing Director/Executive Vice President, Mr. Chris Ndulue said the additional flights were necessitated by the need to ensure that many Nigerians have the opportunity of sharing the joy of the season with those closest to them.

Ndulue elaborated on the Christmas schedule: “For many of our guests, the Christmas and New Year period is a time when families wish to be reunited at the end of a busy year. Arik Air is therefore very pleased to announce that on many of our domestic routes, the airline will be scheduling additional flights and operating larger aircraft to cater for the expected increase in demand.”

The key domestic routes that will be affected during the festive season are Enugu, Owerri, Calabar, Lagos, Abuja and Asaba.  On the mentioned days, Arik Air will increase the frequency on the Lagos-Owerri route from twice to thrice daily while Abuja-Owerri will increase from one to twice daily.

Similarly, the frequency on the Abuja-Enugu route will increase to twice daily, Abuja-Calabar to twice daily and Lagos-Asaba to twice daily.

Arik Air had earlier last month increased the frequencies on some other key domestic routes like Lagos-Calabar, Lagos-Enugu, Lagos-Benin, Abuja-Benin, Lagos-Kano, Abuja-Kano, Abuja-Asaba and Abuja-Ibadan.

Arik Air clinches awards at Security Watch Africa Awards

L-R- Aviation Security Training Manager, Akeem Oladimeji; PR & Communications Manager, Adebanji Ola; Associate Vice President, Dubai, Hamza Bukar and Chief Security Officer, Francis Okafor displaying the awards by Arik Air at the Security Watch Africa Awards in Dubai.

Adding to its laurels, Arik Air swept four awards at the just concluded 11th Security Watch Africa Awards, Lecture and Exhibition held in Dubai, United Arabs Emirates .

According to a statement from the airline, “One after the other, the executives of the airline who were at the Al Bustan Rotana, Casablanca Road, Al Garhoud, Dubai venue of this year’s event mounted the stage to receive the various categories of the awards.

First, the airline won the Best Safety and Security Conscious Airline in West and Central Africa. This is the fourth consecutive year Arik Air would be wining this award. The Managing Director/Executive Vice President of Arik Air, Mr. Chris Ndulue was named the Most Outstanding Aviation Personality in West Africa.”

Other awards won by Arik Air were the Best Aviation Security Manager in West Africa won by the airline’s Chief Security Officer, Francis Okafor and the Most Innovative Aviation Communicator in West Africa won by the PR and Communications Manager, Adebanji Ola.

Chief Executive Officer of Security Watch Africa, organizers of the event, Mr. Patrick Agbambu stated that the awards committee was impressed with the giant strides Arik Air has made over the years and its continued commitment to high standard of security and safety in eight years of operation.

Arik Air’s Aviation Security (AVSEC) Department is one of the most sophisticated in the industry and the airline’s commitment to safety is second to none in West and Central Africa. Arik Air conducts an independent secondary screening of passengers prior to departures. In terms of safety, Arik Air adheres strictly to international safety standards as stipulated by global civil aviation bodies such as Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transport, the UK CAA, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

NCAA ALERT PILOTS ON HAMATTAN HAZE

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a weather alert to all Pilots indicating hazards associated with Harmattan dust haze in flight operations at this period of the year. This is according to an online statement by the authority through the General Manager Public Affairs, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke.

The statement further expressed that this warning is important as Harmattan is known to pose an obvious threat to aircraft particularly in areas of challenging terrains due to low visibility.

This alert is in line with the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) on the cessation of rainy season in 2014.

The Harmattan is a dry and dusty wind that blows southwards from the Sahara across the country between the end of November to March, the following year.

On its passage over the desert, it picks up large amount of fine dust particles (0.5 to 10 micrometers) which are transported hundreds of kilometres over the south.

The effect of the dust and sand stirred by the wind is known as Harmattan Dust Haze.

In addition, the consequence of the Harmattan is a heavy fog hence air – to – ground visibility is considerably reduced.

Aerodrome visibility may fall below the prescribed minima and in severe conditions; dust haze can blot out runways, the markers and airfield lightings over wide areas. This makes visual navigation extremely difficult or impossible.

Resultantly, where visibility falls below the prescribed weather minima, flight operations are likely to be delayed, diverted or outrightly cancelled.

Therefore, all Pilots shall obtain adequate departure, en route and destination weather information and briefing from NIMET prior to flight operations at all the airports.

Pilots are similarly advised to exercise maximum restraint when strong surface wind, fog or harmattan haze is observed or forecast.