Aviation Archives

Nigeria can thrive without the operations of foreign airlines -Hadi Sirika

Oct 25, 2022 topnews

Federal Government of Nigeria, yesterday, dared foreign airlines operating in the country to make good their threat to shutdown operations, saying they should remain grateful for doing business in Nigeria. The government also berated the airlines for failing to employ a good number of Nigerians, noting that other nationals are more in the employment of the foreign carriers than Nigerians. Minister for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who spoke during a stakeholders’ meeting with key players in the industry, insisted International Air Transport Association (IATA), which issued the threat cannot blackmail government.…

Emirates reinstates operations in Nigeria

Sep 1, 2022 topnews

Emirates Airlines, United Arab Emirates, UAE, flag carrier operating in Nigeria, has announced the reinstatement of its flight operations in Nigeria. The airlines had earlier announced suspension of flight operations into the country from September 1, 2022, following its inability to repatriate over $85 million of its tickets sale. But, in response to the development, the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, released part of the outstanding ticket sales fund. However, in an email to customers yesterday, the airline noted that starting September 11, 2022, it will…

Emirates announces suspension of airlines to Nigeria from September

Aug 18, 2022 topnews

Emirates Airlines has announced the suspension of its flight operations in Nigeria from September 1, 2022. It said the suspension became necessary following its inability to repatriate its funds from Nigeria. International carriers operating in Nigeria have repeatedly complained about their inability to repatriate funds to their home countries. They have raised this concern on many occasions with officials of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, as well as those at the finance ministry. Blocked funds belonging to these airlines have risen to about $600m, as this is due to the…

Arik sacks 10 pilots for embarking on industrial action without due notice

Dec 24, 2021 topnews

10 Arik air pilots have been dismissed by the management of the airline for embarking on industrial action without due notice. It was learnt that the aggrieved pilots began strike this week in protest against protracted wage disparity between expatriate and Nigerian pilots that has still not been resolved by Arik Air. The management, in a memo, yesterday, described the protest as an act of “indiscipline and callous,” especially at the peak period of festive travels and its attendant high demands. Spokesperson of the airline, Banji Ola, said though the…

NDLEA: Two traffickers excrete 191 pellets of cocaine, heroin at Lagos airport

Apr 19, 2021 topnews

Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), arrested two men, and have excreted a total of 191 pellets of heroin and cocaine while under observation at the airport. One of the suspects was intercepted during the outward screening of passengers on Ethiopian airline to Italy. The operatives referred one Chukwudi Destiny for scanning and the scan result proved positive to drug ingestion. Consequently, he was placed under excretion observation, and in the process, he excreted 92 pellets of heroin with a…

NCAA suspends Pastor Adeboye’s chopper from flying

Apr 18, 2021Apr 18, 2021 topnews

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA has grounded a private chopper belonging to Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God at the Lagos Airport. It was learnt that the aircraft, AgustaWestland AW139 chopper, with registration number 5N-EAA, was suspended from flying over two weeks ago, following the expiration of some of its papers and spare parts. The suspension, officials said, would also allow the regulator to conduct vital safety checks on its safety-critical components, especially some spare parts that are due for replacement. Adeboye, who flew a…

Military jet crash: 7 bodies, black box recovered

Feb 22, 2021 topnews

Seven dead bodies, black box and cockpit recorder of Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Beachcraft airplane which crashed on Sunday, February 21, 2021 have been recovered. Firemen attached to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) put out the fire in the after noon while officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) were on ground. About 1:30p.m., a team of investigators arrived at the scene from the Accident Investigation Bureau of Nigerian (AIB-N). Working with the Air force personnel, the investigators immediately mapped…

Arik Air disengages 300 workers

Dec 4, 2020 topnews

THE management of Arik Air says it has disengaged 300 of its workers. Adebanji Ola, Arik corporate affair manager said the decision was owing to the economic impact of COVID-19 which has affected the airline from carrying out its routine maintenance on its aircrafts and limited revenues against operational costs. “Arising from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the constrained ability of the airline to complete heavy maintenance activities and return its planes to operations, stunted revenues against increasing operational costs, the management of Arik Air (In…

Airlines increase airfares as operating costs rise

Nov 30, 2020 topnews

The cost of air tickets along several routes have doubled due to the high demand for air travel in light of the rising insecurity in the country and cost of flight operations. The increase in the air tickets has caused complainants as travellers lament how they had to part with large sums of money to purchase tickets. Some of the airlines complained that they could not access foreign exchange at the official rate while the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria had increased its fees. It was gathered that, airlines are…

Helicopter crashes into residential building in Lagos

Aug 28, 2020 topnews

An helicopter has crashed into a residential area in Opebi area of Lagos State. The helicopter belonging to Quorum Aviation dropped from the sky around 12.17 pm at the Salvation Bus Stop area in Opebi. Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has been drafted to the scene to put things under control. The Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) has confirmed that the helicopter, which was carrying three passengers, claimed two lives while one is in the intensive care unit at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. Director-General, LASEMA, Dr…