Aviation Daily!

The Federal government of Nigeria has lifted the ban on Emirates Airlines flying into the country. This agreement was reached after due consultations between the government of the United Arab Emirates and Nigeria. News sources have it on record that visiting visa issuance by the UAE would commence on October 8th. The minister of Aviation in Nigeria has made it clear that the air travel between the two countries would commence once the visa ban has been lifted. 

The Federal Government of Nigeria has increased available seats on the flights of international airlines to 200 passengers per aircraft operating into the two designated airports, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Musa Nuhu, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), disclosed this in a statement in Lagos on Saturday. He communicated the approved capacity increase to all foreign airline operators flying into Nigeria through the Air Operators Letter (AOL) dated October 2, which is also the effective date of the updated flight schedules. “The Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos with the new update is to see on the average, 2,200 passengers daily, while the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, is to witness averagely, 1,400 passengers on daily basis. A total of 25, 200 seats per week is now available to foreign carriers to sell.’’ “You shall ensure that all flight operations are ...

 The first batch of regional and international flights landed in South Africa early on Thursday, as borders reopened after a more than six-month shutdown to limit the spread of coronavirus. German carrier Lufthansa was the first European airline to resume operations into the country, with a flight from Frankfurt landing at Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International airport at 8.30 a.m. (0630 GMT). Planes also flew in from Kenya, Zambia, and neighboring Zimbabwe. Africa's most industrialized economy sealed its borders at the start of a strict anti-coronavirus lockdown on March 27. Restrictions on movement and business have been gradually eased since May, but international borders stayed shut to avoid importing the virus from abroad. The travel ban dealt a heavy blow to the tourist industry, which usually employs around 1.5 million people and contributes over 8.5 percent GDP, according to the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA). The group estimated in July that each day...

 Emirates Airline has been added to the list of airlines which have been banned from operating in Nigeria. The ban took effect from the 21st of September. This was announced by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika in a social media statement Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Angolan TAG, Air Namibia, and Royal Air Maroc were not approved to operate flights into the country. Emirates airline joins the list of airlines not approved to operate in the country. The mega carrier has since commenced efforts to be approved once again by the federal government of Nigeria. The ban might be linked to the visa reciprocity agreement between Nigeria and the UAE.

The Middle East Airline (MEA), which took off from Beirut, Lebanon, made history as the first international flight to land anywhere in the country since March 2020 as it touched down at the MMIA at exactly 2.30p.m. The aircraft was ceremonially welcomed with a water cannon demonstration by the officials of the Aerodrome and Rescue Fire Fighters, a Department in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). The officials of FAAN, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Port Health Services (PHS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other relevant agencies were on ground to attend to the passengers brought in by the airline. On arrival at the terminal, passengers presented their documents, including COVID-19 PCR test results for screening by the Port Health Services officials, while their travelling papers, passports and visas were handled by the immigration officials at the airport. However, there was no much work to be done by the officials on ground as the aircraft landed with just 200 p...

In Preparation of the new resumption dates, the Nigerian government has announced the approved airlines allowed to fly into the country. The list of international airlines was announced by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, during a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. According to Hon Sirika, only the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos will be opened on Saturday to receive International flights. The aviation minister said that the airlines denied flying approval include Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Royal line Morocco, Air Namibia, Etihad, and Rwanda Air. However, he also announced those airlines permitted to operate within the country’s airspace. They include British Airways, Emirates, Middle East Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic, Ethiopia, and Egypt Air. He said that the airlines are expected to operate within the C...

 I nternational flights, earlier scheduled to resume on August 29, will now commence on September 5. 2020 “Regret to announce that the international flight resumption earlier scheduled to resume on 29th August has been shifted to 5th September 2020,” the ministry of aviation tweeted on Thursday. President Muhammadu Buhari had in March ordered the suspension of international flights to stop further the spread of Covid 19 virus into the country. While local flights were also suspended, they resumed about five weeks ago as the country joined the rest of the world to battle the pandemic. The Director-General of the  Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority   (NCAA), Musa Nuhu, explained that the resumption was postponed to ensure all non-aviation logistics are put in place. Mr Nuhu while speaking at the bi-weekly Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing, on Thursday, said this is to ensure the smooth and efficient resumption of the flights.

Breaking News !  International flights to resume on the 29th of this month.   The Federal Minister of Aviation in Nigeria, Hadi Sirika, made the announcement on Monday in Abuja at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. “We are very glad today to announce that international flights will resume from August 29, 2020,” he said. Sirika added, “However, what we have become used to – physical distancing, wearing of masks, washing of hands, temperature taking, etc will continue.” He explained that the process for the resumption of international flights in the country would be similar to that of the domestic flight resumption. According to the minister, the resumption will commence on Saturday next week at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The presidential task force on Covid 19 has given the approval for government agencies and airlines to come up with a safe process in which international air travel could resume. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria on its part has released new procedural guidelines for air travelers and other airport users. The new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is aimed at protecting all stakeholders and preventing further spread of the Covid-19 virus. In the “New Normal”, departing passengers must comply with the following guidelines; All passengers MUST arrive the airport properly kitted with their FACE MASKS ON, They MUST also ensure a minimum of one point five meters (1.5m) PHYSICAL DISTANCING, Aviation Medical/Port Health personnel would screen each passenger and ensure the use of FACE MASKS, those travelling with pets MUST get necessary clearance from Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services, All passengers’ luggage WOULD be DISINFECTED before entry into the departure halls, Passe...

 The Airline industry around the world continues to be ravaged by the Covid 19 pandemic with far reaching effects.  Nigeria's Air Peace decided to lay off 69 pilots due to deteriorating economic conditions. In order to survive the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the airline has resorted to downsizing its workforce and restructuring its operations. The airline's spokesperson, Stanley Olisa, stated that Air Peace had to take "a very painful but rightful decision, in the circumstances the airline has found itself as a result of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations and financial health, to terminate the employment of some of its pilots." His statement also explained that the pandemic has seriously hit every airline and made it impossible for most carriers to continue their operations without implementing some restructuring. Olisa noted that the decision made by the airline was for the greater good of the company and its 3,000 employees, a...

  A Middle East airline while taxing on the Murtala Mohammed Airport ran into a parked Turkish Airline cargo aircraft. The  Accident Investigation Bureau  (AIB) has confirmed this in a statement and  said that an aircraft belonging to Turkish Airline was involved in a collision with a Middle East Airline aircraft at the Lagos airport on Wednesday. A media release by Tunji Oketunbi, AIB’s General Manager, Public Affairs, said the bureau has been notified and has commenced an investigation into the “serious incident”. Mr Oketunbi said the incident involved an Airbus A330-243 with the Nationality registration Marks OD-MEA operated by Middle East Airline and a Boeing 777 with Nationality and registration Marks TC-LJC operated by Turkish Airline. “The Turkish cargo aircraft was parked at the international apron when the Middle East airbus was taxing before it ran into it, cutting through the tail cone and damaged part of the right horizontal stabilizer of the Turkish...

There had been reports that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had selected October 15 as the resumption date for international flights. In a tweet on Tuesday, the minister of Aviation said the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) only issued a routine 90-day notice to airmen (NOTAM). “International flight resumption date is not October. NAMA just issued a routine 90-day notice to airmen (NOTAM),” he wrote. “In liaison with health, foreign affairs & PTF COVID-19, we will announce the agreed date, regardless of the ban by Europe, UAE etc.and it may be earlier than October.”

Most people worry about the safety of the cabin air. For most modern aircraft types, the air supplied to the passenger cabin is either 100% fresh or is a mixture of fresh and re-circulated air that is filtered through HEPA Filters  of the same efficacy (99.97% or better) in removing viruses as those used in surgical operating rooms.   While the risk of catching an infection on an aircraft is typically lower than in a shopping center or an office environment, there are simple measures you can take to further reduce the risk of illness if you are traveling. These include practicing hand hygiene by washing them regularly with soap or an alcohol-based sanitizer, and not touching your face, especially eyes, nose, and mouth. While you must not travel when you are ill, should you experience symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness during or after a trip, seek medical attention and share your travel history with your health care provider. Most governments also provide clea...

Domestic flights resumed today in Nigeria with operations between Lagos and Abuja. This was following the three month break forced by the Corona-virus pandemic. However, the turnout of passengers was low as witnessed at the Murtala Mohammed Domestic Airport. Passengers were seen wearing face masks, observing social distancing and adhering to other COVID-19 protocols. It was gathered that only five airlines have been given approval to fly. The approved airlines are believed to be Air Peace ,Aero contractors ,Dana,Arik and Ibom Air.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, announced the new dates for resumption of flights on Wednesday.  Domestic flights will resume on July 8, this was according to a press statement signed by the Ministry of Aviation’s spokesperson, James Odaudu, Mr Sirika also disclosed that only the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos will commence operations on July 8. The Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri, and Maiduguri airports will reopen to flights on July 11, while other airports across the country will join on the July 15.

The European Union has decided that from Wednesday EU borders will be reopened to citizens from 15 non-EU countries, including Canada, Morocco and Australia, but not the US, Brazil and Russia. China is on the list, but subject to a reciprocal agreement, still pending. The unanimous decision by the European Council is not legally binding, so states can choose not to open up to all those countries. Diplomats spent five days debating the list, amid varying pandemic concerns. The so-called "safe travel destinations" are, besides China: Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. The UK and four other non-EU states - Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway - are automatically included as "safe".

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Saturday conducted a test run of robots at the International Airport in Lagos. The robots are expected to facilitate passengers processing and reduce human interaction as much as possible. If successful, the robots would be deployed at other airports in the Country as well.  The robots are expected to conduct temperature checks, passenger profiling and as well as checks for dangerous goods on travelers. In other news, the Managing director of FAAN ,Captain Rabiu Yadudu also announced that as part of the measures to ensure safe travel and passage of passengers in the Airport terminal, no two flights would be allowed to depart at the same time. As at of the time of this report it was not yet clear how this would be achieved as Captain Yadudu also insisted that no airline flight schedule would be disrupted.

Several bodies are putting plans and test operations in place in response to the federal government's initiative. Airlines, Handling companies and numerous agencies are all coming together with exercises to meet up with the aviation minister's requirements. As part of preparations, Air Peace deployed all its aircraft to the skies, flying to Abuja, Port Harcourt and back to Lagos without passengers. These flights were aimed at ensuring that the aircraft are in tip-top condition, having been grounded for close to three months though they have been under very strict storage maintenance. The spokesperson of the airline, Stanley Olisa, who disclosed this to journalists, said the shakedown flights were part of the measures the airline has developed to guarantee the safety of both passengers and crew when operations resume. He noted that the aircraft have been in storage mode for a couple of months and extensive maintenance checks have been carried out to keep them up to the required ...

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) moved it's corporate headquarters to Abuja yesterday. This was announced in a press release by Mrs Henrietta Yakubu the General Manager Corporate Affairs. This was done to comply with the directive from the Federal Minister of Aviation for all agencies in the sector to move their headquarters to Abuja. The managing Director for FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu ,Directors and other critical staff members have since relocated to Abuja. The directive was issued since the 4th of may as indicated by a memo from the ministry.  A letter dated May 4, 2020 with the reference number: FMA/PMD/7061/T/4 with the heading: Relocation of Aviation Agencies’ Headquarters to Abuja, signed by Muhammad Shehu, Director, Human Resource Management on behalf of the ministry gave the agencies 45 days to relocate their headquarters to Abuja. In the days to come, the impact of this directive would be felt in the industry as the movement was aimed at ensuring operation...

In preparation to resume flight operations in the Nigerian Airports, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has put in place some structures to help improve social distancing, along with measures to protect airport users from the corona virus pandemic. Structures in place are hand sanitizer stands along with wash hand basins at various points in the premises, stickers on the floor to describe how people should stand in order to maintain social distancing and lots more.  Pictures are attached below. These are all in readiness to resume flight operations and to fight the Corona virus pandemic.