Arik Air Flew 2.7m Passengers In 2013

Arik Air yesterday disclosed that it has recorded steady growth in the number of passengers it carried between 2012 and 2013.

The year-end figure released by the airline showed that a total of 2,745,400 passengers were carried in 2013. This figure represents 18.6 per cent increase over the 2012 passenger figure of 2,315,247.
The month of March 2013 was significant in that the airline recorded the highest passenger figure for the year with a total of 260,132 passengers carried across its wide network of 30 destinations. This was against the 171,794 passengers carried in the same month in 2012. A significant increase was also recorded in April when a total of 249,854 passengers were carried. This represents about 33.7 per cent increase over the 2012 figure.
Arik Air Managing Director, Mr Chris Ndulue said the airline has so far flown 13,471,414 passengers from start of operations on October 30, 2006 till December 31, 2013. He attributed the steady growth to the airline’s continued adherence to safety standards, unequaled extensive domestic coverage and good service delivery.
Ndulue commented: “The figures for the period just ended are very encouraging and reflect the steady growth that we have been experiencing since launching our operations on October 30, 2006. We have gone through a rapid expansion over the years while the last two years have been used to consolidate on the new markets.’’
“Arik Air has been the success story of Nigerian commercial aviation. This is set to continue and there is much to be achieved. “During 2014, the airline plans to increase its market share in Nigeria. With the addition of three new aircraft to our fleet last year, we are set to continue our expansion programme by launching new routes to Abidjan and Dubai before the end of the second quarter.”
Culled from:  www.leadership.ng

NCAA to revoke airline licenses granted without due process

THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has begun re-assessment of licences of airlines which were alleged to have been awarded without following due process.
   Criticism had trailed the award of Air Operators Certificate (AOC) to about three airlines last year before the Director-General of NCAA, Captain Fola Akinkuotu assumed office.    The situation raised huge safety concern.
   Akinkuotu told The Guardian yesterday that the plan by the aviation regulatory body to re-assess the certificates of the new operators is not punitive but to carrying out its functions in line with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Act.
  According to him, the NCAA needs to ask questions, and if it does not get satisfactory answers on the licences, it is bound to revoke or suspend them.
  Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Hope Uzodinmma, had on October 28, 2013, during investigation of the rot in the sector, disclosed that the Senate found out that licences were issued to airlines that own no aircraft.
  He revealed that the affected airlines, which he did not mention, were yet to commence operations because they did not own any aircraft six months after obtaining operation licence.
   Uzodinma described as reckless a situation where AOCs were issued to non-existent aircraft without recourse to, and observance of prescribed and laid down regulations. “The issue of AOC is a serious matter since after Demuren, the NCAA has issued twice the number of certificates. When it comes to the issue of safety, standards and regulations, we cannot compromise,” the senator said.
   The Guardian learnt that a start up airline had early last year brought into the country four aircraft in preparation for operations, but was refused a licence by former Director General, Dr. Harold Demuren, for not complying with the requirements for the award of flight licence.
   Demuren was said to have vowed never to grant licence to others in that category, but after the removal of Demuren, three carriers got AOC, which raised a lot of dust in the sector.
   Immediately Akinkuotu assumed office late last year, he told journalists that he would look at the licences with a view to finding out whether they were awarded in accordance with the laid down rules.
  Meanwhile, Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, has directed the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nnamdi Udoh, to convey aviation stakeholders’ Town Hall meeting to discuss the way forward for the industry.
   The meeting is expected to be held 6 p.m. on January 28, 2014 at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
  But airline operators told The Guardian that they would boycott the meeting, alleging irregularity in asking NAMA and not the Director-General of the NCAA to convey the meeting.
   Most of the operators who spoke to The Guardian on condition of anonymity said they would wait for President Goodluck Jonathan’s stakeholders’ meeting scheduled to hold early next month to voice their concern over the state of the industry and how he could assist to take the sector out of the woods.

Culled: www.ngrguardiannews.com

ICAO, IATA, confirm 2013 as safest year for global aviation

THE International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have confirmed that 2013 was the safest year ever recorded in terms of fatalities for scheduled international air transport operations in a data jointly released by the bodies.
  The international bodies stated that although the number of aviation accidents involving fatalities remained steady at nine during 2013, adding that, fatalities themselves were down, a significant of 53.5 per cent from 2012, dropping to only 173 compared to 372 the previous year.
  Using 2010 as a baseline, the report noted that fatalities had fallen by a whopping 76 per cent and 2013 represented the third consecutive year in which air transport fatalities have continued to decrease.
  According to the Secretary General, ICAO, Raymond Benjamin: “These results are no surprise given the level of commitment our sector demonstrates, year-in and year-out, to improving the safety of the global air transport network.
  “Recent years have seen a tremendous increase in the level of cooperation and partnership on aviation safety priorities and we are now seeing the fruits of these efforts born out by these remarkable 2013 outcomes.”
  The groups stated that the Middle East had no fatal accidents, Africa and the Asia/Pacific each had one, Europe had two, and the Americas saw the highest number with a total of five fatal accidents in 2013. Also of note was that of the nine total fatal accidents worldwide, seven occurred during the approach or go-around phases of flight.
  The President of the ICAO Council, Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu said: “Safety is ICAO’s guiding and most fundamental strategic objective. “ICAO and IATA, together with a wide range of partnering organisations who are contributing to our cooperative international safety programmes, will continue to coordinate the investment and collaboration needed to ensure that air transport remains the safest means of rapidly moving people and goods worldwide.”
source: www.ngrguardiannews.com

Aviation experts prescribe designation of three domestic airlines as national carriers

Aviation experts under the aegis of Aviation safety Round Table Initiative on Thursday urged the Federal Government to as a matter of emergency designate three domestic carrier as national carrier. The experts after a meeting in Lagos to examine the myriad of challenges confronting the sector also called for the setting up of an Aviation Development Fund ( ADF), which will replace the existing five per cent ticket sales charge collected by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority( NCAA). The experts also called for the removal of Value Added Tax ( VAT), on domestic travel, as such practice is only carried out in Nigeria on air travel mode. VAT on domestic travel, they said is not implemented in any part of the world. They also urged government to stop foreign airlines from selling tickets, as practiced in other parts of the world, as it is the duty of travel agents who are at the downstream sector to undertake such duties. They canvassed the convocation of a consultative stakeholders forum where issues concerning the sector will be examined and a roadmap drawn for government's implementation. The agitation for the designation of three airlines as flag carriers according to them is the only way Nigerian carriers could compete with foreign airlines to reciprocate the over 78 bilateral air services agreements ( BASA), 21 of which are not utilized , but only five are reciprocated. The three airlines, the experts said should have a minimum of 30 aircraft , which should development its fleet to 50 aircraft within three years . President of Sabre Travel Network, Mr. Gbenga Olowo said at the forum that the three airlines to be designated as national carriers with a 50 aircraft fleet is the only way Nigerian carriers could compete with the over 27 foreign airlines flying into the country . He said if domestic airlines must compete with foreign carriers, they need to forge consolidation with pooling of resources to enhance their capacity. Hesaid the current low capacity level of Nigerian carriers explains why none could enter into major global airline alliances because of their limited capacity. He said government should implement a single entry point for foreign carriers into Nigeria, as the current multiple entry point is killing domestic airlines, who are struggling to keep their operations afloat. He said government must go ahead to make the single entry point mandatory , as one of the ways of stimulating domestic traffic to create a hub status for Nigerian airports . He also canvassed the establishment of a " Fly the Flag Act", to ensure that all travel of government funds are carried out on the designated flag carriers. In his presentation, the former managing director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Captain Roland Iyayi canvassed a three - tier licensing structure for domestic airlines, which should be granted approval for operations according to the scope and capacity of their operations . Iyayi said the challenges in the sector will not be addressed until government visits the policy of deregulation and liberalization   of the the sector with a view to resolving the current distortions. He said the basics of the industry has to seriously addressed as airlines were using wrong money sourced under suffocating repayment terms to finance aircraft, which often times lead to the collapse of many airlines. Iyayi said until Nigerian carriers utilize the best business plan, they will not enjoy cheap access to funding. He called on government to create a friendlier business environment through reduction in taxes, reduction in the cost of aviation fuel as one of the ways to assist domestic operators. Iyayi said: “Deregulation policy ought to provide the consumer a better choice. It was fashionable at the time of Nigeria Airways Limited, but it brought about fragmentation of the market, which did not have sufficient capacity , but merely market presence. “After the 1984 liberalization policy, aviation is still in crisis, the major issues have not been resolved. The load factor went down due to lack of subsidy. “If the distortions occasioned by the effects of deregulation and liberalization is not addressed, the industry will still be in crisis. “In Nigeria, our airlines should look towards consolidation , this way, they will have cheap source of funding ." Iyayi also raised concerns over the poor oversight duties of the NCAA, affirming that the authority is unable to meet its responsibility and sufficiently train its technical personnel. He said: " Airlines are not making profit because the fabric of infrastructure in the industry is not yet what it ought to be. “Even aviation fuel is taxed by FAAN. Even the NCAA cannot pay its bills  to carry out a thorough oversight of airlines. Imagine airlines paying the travel bills of NCAA aircraft inspectors, who travel abroad to inspect aircraft.  “It appears to me that the NCAA is completely docile . The NCAA has to fight to get its autonomy , because the law provides for that ."  On solutions to industry challenges , he canvassed the putting in place of an institutional policy framework . He said there was the need  for the re- examination of the deregulation policy , even as government must stop the collection of value added tax and other tariff on mobile assets .  In his presentation, an aviation security expert, Group Captain John Ojikutu said the current threats to civil aviation in Nigerian airports may force the the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO), to carry out a fresh of Nigerian airports .  He said Nigerian airports remained unsafe because of lack of security fence around the airports , which only has perimeter fences.  He said most of the airports do not have a contingency plan as well as airport security programme to take care of threats to civil aviation. Ojikutu said: "There is a lot of corruption in the system. It should be mandatory for every airport and airline to have their own security programme.” Source: www.worldstagegroup.com

Bi-Courtney Built MMA2 Terminal Without Approval–FAAN

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services ltd (BASL) are on a war path again over the approval for the Bi-Courtney Terminal design.
The FAAN said it disagrees with a report credited to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services which stated that “the design of the terminal building of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (Domestic Terminal 2) was approved by the federal government and FAAN after due consultation with their consultants.”
According to BASL, “The FAAN was involved at every stage of the redesign and redevelopment of the project.”
However, according to the spokesman of aviation agencies, Yakubu Dati, in a statement made available to journalists in Lagos at the weekend, that is not a true representation of the facts.
“We wish to state categorically and for the umpteenth time that nothing could be further from the truth. The design that the FAAN approved was for a terminal costing a total of N3.9 billion.
“However, without approval from FAAN, Bi-Courtney went ahead, of its own volition, to build a terminal different from the one originally approved by the FAAN, the cost of which it put at N38 billion, nearly 10 times the approved cost.
“There was no way the FAAN could have approved a terminal at a cost of N38 billion for a 12 year -concession because it did not make economic sense.
“We hereby urge members of the public, especially aviation stakeholders, to disregard that bogus claim by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services which we believe was designed to deceive members of the public as usual,” he said.
The FAAN and BASL have been involved in a battle of wits over the concession agreement of  the MMA2 Terminal building built on the private-public venture agreement of build, operate and transfer basis. Some of the contentious issues include the number of years in which  BASL would manage the complex as well as the amount spent on the project.
The FAAN also believed that the concession was skewed in favour of the BASL, an issue that has resulted in litigations in the law courts.
Source:www. leadership.ng

Arik Airlifts over 2000 Nigerians from Troubled CAR

Arik Air

Major domestic operator, Arik Air last Sunday completed the airlift of Nigerians from the troubled Central Africa Republic (CAR) where civil strife is threatening to tear the country apart.
The airline was engaged by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to rescue Nigerians living in that country before the feared full blown war may start.

THISDAY gathered from a reliable source that Arik airlifted over 2000 passengers with two of its Boeing B737-800 through Friday last week to Sunday and brought the Nigerians who were willing to leave the country from CAR’s capital, Bangui to Abuja.

Some industry observers said that before the demise of Nigeria Airways Limited it was carrying out similar emergency airlifting of Nigerians in war torn parts of the world or other emergencies; that Arik taking over this responsibility indicates that the Federal Government may be reappraising its decision of designating Aero Contractors as a national carrier.

Although Arik was engaged by NEMA but not without the knowledge of the Presidency, THISDAY gathered, but this is not the first time Arik is carrying out similar function for the Federal Government.

In 2010 Arik airlifted the Nigerian Super Eagles to South Africa for the World Cup and early last year, it was Arik that also airlifted the victorious Super Eagles who won the Nation’s Cup and recently also the airline took the Nigerian Army contingent to Mali for the Federal Government during the crisis there.

Arik is the only Nigerian airline with about 26 Next Generation aircraft; the nearest airline coming close is Aero with about nine aircraft, which are made of largely classics. So the airline has capacity.

THISDAY spoke to the deputy managing director and head of flight operations of the airline, Captain Ado Sanusi who acknowledged that the airline deployed two of its aircraft to airlift the Nigerians in Bangui without adjusting its operational schedule both in its domestic services, regional and international operations.

“We were contacted by NEMA to deploy our aircraft to help evacuate stranded Nigerians from the Central African Republic and within 24 hours two of our aircraft started the evacuation exercise. We started Friday January 3 through Sunday January 5. We concluded the operations on Sunday,” Sanusi confirmed.

He said there were a lot of children among the passengers and that Immigration and officials of security agencies were involved in the evacuation, as the French Army in charge of the airport in Bangui presided.
Sanusi noted that because Arik has the desired capacity it responds to such emergency calls at short notice.

The airline delivered three modern aircraft last year, including two Airbus A330-200 and one CRJ -1000 and in 2014, the airline is expecting two CRJ -1000 and four Bombardier Q400.
Since 2006 the airline started operation, it had airlifted over 10 million passengers and about three million passengers in 2013.

Sanusi said, “We have the capacity; if we use our airplanes at night we will increase our operational capacity to 70 per cent. We will dedicate four hours for maintenance. Outside Nigeria most of our competitors operate 24 hours. They do not have the challenges that we have.”

The challenge is that many of Nigerian airports have restricted night operation because there is no runway lighting in most of them. If there is airfield lighting Arik and some other domestic carriers could be operating to at least six additional airports in the night. This limits the airlines’ capacity.

source: www.thisdaylive.com

AIPB begins probe of Aero B737-500 incident at MMA

Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau, AIPB, has commenced investigation into the incident involving a Boeing 737-500 with Registration No 5N-BLC, operated by Aero contractors at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.
The aircraft has since been towed to the apron of the airport
The aircraft operated by Aero contractors landed safely at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, following loss of pressure in one of the tyres.
The aircraft had a total of 104 passengers and crew members on board.
Meanwhile, the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has assured all air travellers of their safety and cautioned against magnifying a manageable incident out of proportion.
Source: www.nigerianpilot.com