Aviation

External, internal forces worked against Air Peace Lagos-London operation – Onyema

Published

2 months ago

April 1, 2024

External, internal forces worked against Air Peace Lagos-London operation – Onyema

Air Peace Chief Executive Officer, (CEO)Allen Onyema, says the airline faced internal and external obstacles before it could commence Lagos-London flight operation.

He spoke on Monday in an interview with Arise TV, adding that it took the airline seven years to commence operations.

Air Peace, Nigeria’s flag carrier, on March 30, commenced its Lagos-London flight services.

Onyema said, “We got the designation about six and a half years ago to go into London. Since then, it has been a cat-and-mouse game.

“We actually procured our three-triple seven because of this route, not for any other route because we wanted to give it the blow that it deserved at that time.

“However, we were not allowed to. Whether you like it or not, there is what we call international aero-politics which is very dirty. We applied for the third-country operators (TCO). You must get that one before you start going into any European country, UK inclusive.”

Onyema also recalled that when the TCO organisation from Europe wrote the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), asking if the agency knew Air Peace and its designation, the regulator denied the airline.

“My country denied us. So, they tweaked back. We went back to the NCAA and they said we did not tell them. Who designated us? The Federal Ministry of Aviation whose duty it was and it still is to do that,” he said.

According to Onyema, the airline was ready “but they (NCAA) said until they allowed us apply”.

“We got designation from the Federal Government and the NCAA, under the same Federal Government that was telling me that you should not make any application going into the UK,” he said.

He said this happened despite obtaining licences to fly to China and India.

Onyema said the NCAA did not find the airline worthy to fly to the UK, even though it is doing “over 160 hours of flying daily” in the country.

“No other airline in Central Western Africa does that much. So, the game is both from within and without. We were stopped. I’ll never stop saying it,” he said.

“So, we continued this cat and mouse game with the NCAA until Captain Musa Nuhu during his time said enough is now enough. Air Peace must be allowed to go in. What’s the issue? When the heat became so much, they told us to prove to them that we will be able to pass the TCO.

“If I don’t pass the TCO, it doesn’t mean anything, then I’ll leave. But allow me to go. They said we must prove to them that we will be able to pass the TCO. I said you come and audit us based on the TCO standard.

“They said we had to get consultancy firms from IATA to do that and IATA must conduct that and give their results. We paid a cost of over $200 million. We brought IATA and IATA conducted it.”

Onyema said Air Peace passed the test and wrote to the NCAA to approve the process to do an audit with the TCO Europe.

He said the TCO did not respond for over a year until the airline threatened to go to the press if their response was not received.

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Aviation

Updated: We’ll resume Lagos-Dubai flights on October 1, says Emirates

Published

21 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Trends Admin

Updated: We’ll resume Lagos-Dubai flights on October 1, says Emirates

Emirates Airlines on Thursday announced that its flight operations to Nigeria would resume on October 1, 2024.

It said this in a statement, “The service will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER. EK783 will depart Dubai at 0945hrs, arriving in Lagos at 1520hrs. The return flight EK784 will leave Lagos at 1730hrs and arrives in Dubai at 0510hrs the next day.

“Tickets can be booked now on Emirates.com or via travel agents.”

It quoted Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, as saying the Lagos-Dubai service has traditionally been popular in Nigeria.

“We thank the Nigerian government for their partnership and support in re-establishing this route and we look forward to welcoming passengers back onboard,” Kazim said.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Wednesday said the Emirates Airlines had given a definite date to resume flight operations to Nigeria and would make the announcement in a matter of days.

Emirates Airlines suspended flight operations to Nigeria in October 2022 over its inability to repatriate its $85 million revenue trapped in Nigeria.

Aviation

Dana Air lays off workers amid govt audit

Published

6 days ago

May 11, 2024

Trends Admin

Dana Air lays off workers amid govt audit

Dana Air has sacked some of its workers amid an operational audit being conducted and by the Nigerian regulatory authorities.

Dana disclosed this through its head of corporate communications, Kingsley Ezenwa, in a statement on Saturday, May 11.

The audit coming after some incidents is to ensure the airline complies with necessary standards and regulations.

Ezenwa stated, “In light of the ongoing audit, Dana Air has made the decision to temporarily disengage some staff members pending the conclusion of the audit.

“This decision has been made to ensure efficient management of resources and to facilitate a thorough review of operational procedures.”

He said the management appreciated the sacked workers’ resilience and dedication and recognised the difficulties they had faced.

Ezenwa also said that the airline pledged to provide updates and support for its staff members throughout the audit process.

He said the airline had commenced talks with lessors and was engaging stakeholders on the progress made so far.

“Dana Air therefore urges for calm and understanding from our very dedicated staff for their altruism,” he added.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) recently suspended the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of Dana Air after one of its aircraft skidded off the runway at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos State.

Aviation

Air Peace gets court order to answer queries on aircraft operations

Published

2 weeks ago

April 30, 2024

Trends Admin

Air Peace gets court order to answer queries on aircraft operations

A Lagos State High Court has ordered Air Peace to respond to questions brought by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism in a libel suit No. LD/ADR/4833/23 filed by the airline on October 12, 2022, regarding its aircraft operations from Lagos to Anambra State.

Air Peace insisted that it followed safety standards and practices in accordance with relevant regulations and policies.

It questioned the FIJ’s interrogations of its aircraft and flight operations, calling them “scandalous and irrelevant” to the libel case.

FIJ was dissatisfied with Air Peace’s responses to the queries and filed an application to compel them to adequately explain the objections.

Justice Kudiarat Jose upheld the argument of FIJ, represented by its counsel, Abimbola Ojenike and Jesulayomi Oyelami of Slingstone LP, stating that the questions requesting the details of the first two aircraft designated to convey passengers were relevant to the facts in issue, related to the defendant’s case, and capable of proving that the defendants were correct.

As a result, the court ordered Air Peace to respond to questions 1, 4, and 7 of the defendant’s interrogation within seven days of receiving the order.

The questions are: ‘Provide a comprehensive description and specification of the aircraft 5N-BUL initially scheduled for the operation of Flight P47336 on October 12, 2022. The description should include the make, year, engine type, and service information, including the most recent aircraft maintenance checks conducted prior to Flight P47336 on October 12, 2022, particularly but not limited to any faults or repairs on the systems.’