This week’s update

Short updates:

• Air Nigeria’s pilots and engineers are on strike since Friday, 1 June. The employees are aggrieved over ‘delayed [payment of] salaries of both local and foreign staff, pension deduction not remitted for over seven months, tax refund and tax clearance issues, co-operative deductions not yet remitted, staff travel unresolved and engineering tier system still pending’. The strike disrupted the airline’s domestic and regional operations.
• Aero resumed flights from Abuja and Lagos to Enugu (schedule).
• The US has donated a set of body scanners to Lagos Airport.

Aero introduces a revised colour scheme

Aero’s new B737-400 (5N-BOB) is the airline’s third aircraft (after 5N-BJA and 5N-BOC) to receive a revised colour scheme. The tail colours of the aircraft are reversed and the ‘flyaero.com’ (5N-BLD) titles dropped again. Aero will receive a further four B734s (to be registered 5N-BOT, 5N-BOU, 5N-BOV, 5N-BOW) from Garuda Airways later this year.

Aero also unveiled its new cabin crew uniforms on the 1st of May to mark the airline’s 53rd anniversary.

Aero – B737-400 – 5N-BOB (copyright AJ Best)

This week’s update

Short updates:

• Aero has doubled its daily flights from Lagos to Calabar, Kano and Uyo (schedules).
• Aero’s fourth B737-400 (5N-BOB) was ferried to Lasham for painting.
• Arik Air will end its lease and lease back construction with HiFly soon. The two A345s will be transferred to the Nigerian registry and operated on Arik’s own AOC. CS-TFX will become 5N-JIA and CS-TFW will be re-registered 5N-JIB.
• Intrepid Aviation has denied that it will be leasing (up to) four A330s to Arik Air.
• Arik Air’s B738 (5N-MJP) returned into service after maintenance work at Smith Reynolds Airport.
• EgyptAir is reported to have agreed a one-year wet-lease of two of its A330-200 aircraft to Air Nigeria from May and June 2012.
• FirstNation Airways has temporarily suspended its daily Lagos-Port Harcourt flight due to the lack of operational aircraft.
• Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates have signed an air services Memorandum of Understanding, which allows an increase in all-cargo frequency entitlements for the designated carriers of the two countries.
• A new start-up, Gambia Birds, is planning to commence flights between Banjul and Lagos.

This week’s update

Short updates:

• Air Nigeria will use an A330-200 (24/244 configuration) for its three weekly service to London Gatwick and Johannesburg in May. Service to London will become daily in June after the arrival of a second aircraft. The schedules are now available and flights can be booked online.
• CAPA made an analysis of the available seats from Lagos to London and Johannesburg.
• Maintenance Centre Malta now offers EASA line maintenance capabilities for Bombardier, Dornier, and Cessna products at Lagos Airport with its partner Evergreen Apple (EAN).
• AeroMechanical Services has signed a contract with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to provide a Safety Management System Dashboard.The SMS Dashboard will expand the current tracking and real-time alerts for the NCAA to monitor all Nigerian registered aircraft equipped with satellite based tracking solutions and data collection hardware.
• Benin Airport recorded 348,906 passengers in 2010 and 323,545 passengers in 2011. The number of aircraft movements also fell from 7,081 to 6,791 in this period, after Air Nigeria cancelled its flights to Benin and Associated Aviation and Aero decreased their frequencies.
• British Airways and Virgin Atlantic were questioned by the Nigerian House of Representatives about the ‘regional price disparity‘ and alleged tax evasion. The Punch had an excellent commentary on the ‘Controversy over foreign airlines’ excessive charges‘.
• The Airlines Operators of Nigeria have asked the Federal Government to investigate how aviation agencies spent their Internally Generated Revenue. They argue that the various airport taxes being charged at the local and international airports are not justifiable and that the charges are high compared to the services the agencies are offering.
• The Saab 340 (N340SS) previously operated for Fresh Air and Overland Airways is now stored at Rand Airport.
• Enugu Airport is currently closed for reparation works.

Aero fleet renewal

Aero has recently returned two Dash 8-Q300s to CHC, but will add five B737-400s to increase its fleet of this type to eight aircraft in the near future. A second former AirOne B737-400 (ex-EI-CWE) is already being prepared for delivery as 5N-BOB, and four more second-hand B734s are acquired from Garuda Airlines. However, the seventh and final B737-500 (5N-BLH) that airline would initially lease, is now being scrapped at Lasham.

Apparently, the airline also intends to increase its Dash 8-fleet again. Aero signed a contract with Fokker Services to accommodate the envisioned expansion of airline’s fleet of Dash 8 aircraft.

Aero is now also operating a S76C+ with a six seat VIP-interior for the Rivers State Government in addition to the AW139 (5N-RSN) already operated for the State Government.

Saliently, Cecilia Ibru is reported to be in charge of the airline again, after serving a jail sentence for fraud and financial mismanagement.

TopBrass Aviation operates two Dash 8-Q300s

TopBrass Aviation now operates two Dash 8-Q300s (5N-TBB and 5N-TBC) for the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. The two aircraft were acquired from HeliMalongo last year. The charter operator intends to add two Dash 8-Q400s to its fleet later this year.

Meanwhile, Aero has returned two of its Dash 8-Q300s and now operates only one aircraft (5N-BJO) of this type.

Here is a short video of a TopBrass Dash 8 (copyright captainbrookes2).

Aero Increases Frequencies To Abuja And Port Harcourt

Per 7 February 2010, Aero will add a flight from Lagos to Abuja as well as to Port Harcourt on weekdays. The airline will have eight daily return flights from Lagos to Abuja and five from Lagos to Port Harcourt from Monday to Friday. The new flights are:

• AJ129 LOS-ABV 11:30-12:50
• AJ128 ABV-LOS 13:20-14:40
• AJ319 LOS-PHC 15:10-16:25
• AJ320 PHC-LOS 16:55-18:10

Arik Air Changes Pricing Strategy

Arik Air introduced a new pricing system that allows for cheaper domestic fares through advanced purchasing. The new lower fares apply to tickets bought 14 days in advance of the required travel date by passengers. The management of Arik Air previously maintained that only high fixed prices could make its operations in Nigeria profitable.

Aero and Air Nigeria also offer lower prices to customers who book their tickets online and in advance.

FAAN Grounds Several Airlines

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) temporarily suspended some operations of Aero, Dana Air, Chanchangi Airlines and IRS Airlines yesterday over their inability to pay up their debts to the authority. Explaining that airline operators in Nigeria are not responding positively in paying up their dues, the agency said that it will not hesitate to shut down the operations of persistent defaulters in the sector, adding that the grounding of airlines negatively impact on the travelling public.

Aero To Enugu From 7 February 2011

Aero announced it will resume a daily Lagos-Enugu service per 7 February 2011. The airline will join Arik Air and Air Nigeria, which already have daily flights to Enugu Airport from Lagos and Abuja. Schedule:

• AJ305 LOS-ENU 08:00-09:15
• AJ306 ENU-LOS 09:45-11:00

The 'refurbished' Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu

Aero - B737-400 - 5N-BIZ (Copyright José Ramón Valero)

This Week’s Update

A few short updates:

• Overland Airways accepted a third ATR 42-300 (5N-BND) this week.
• NAHCON contracted Alwafeer Air to carry Hajj pilgrims from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia (presumably for Meridian Airlines).
• An Aero B735 suffered an incident at Lagos Airport on 24 October 2010, as mist developed in the cabin prior landing.
• Air Nigeria published its new schedules, including the new service to Kano that starts next week. The airline is desperately in need of a new website though.
• Click here to see the future website of FirstNation Airways featuring its logo. The airline is recruiting flight crew and mechanics for A320 and B763ER aircraft.

This Week’s Update

A few short updates:

• Aero has postponed plans to operate commercial flights from its Lagos private terminal, after protests from Bi-Courtney, the owner of MMA2.
• Air Nigeria will commence flights from Lagos to Kano via Abuja on 2 November 2010.
• The Nigerian Police took delivery of a new Bell 412 helicopter (5N-LEH) this week. It also operates 5N-KSH.
• The Bauchi State Embraer 145 (5N-BJM) is now leased to Associated Aviation.
• Biman Bangladesh was barred by its government from leasing a 26-year-old B742 from Kabo Air for the Hajj flights.
• A Gabon based airline called RegionAir now offers flights from Port Harcourt to Douala, Port Gentil, Pointe Noire and Luanda. The airline intends to add Calabar and Malabo to its network shortly.
• Reportedly, permission was granted to Asky Airlines to start flights from/to Lagos per 31 October 2010.

Aero Makes Changes To Schedule

Aero announced it will increase its frequencies from Lagos to Abuja and Port Harcourt to eight and five daily flights respectively, effective October 1, 2010.

From the 17th of October, Aero’s flights from Lagos to Warri (Osubi Airstrip) and Port Harcourt NAF Base will no longer depart from the MMA2 domestic terminal, but will be operated from Aero’s private terminal at Lagos Airport.

The launch of international services to Libreville has been put on hold.

Aero Announces Libreville

Aero announced it will resume flights to Libreville, the capital of Gabon. The three weekly service will commence on 20 September 2010, according to the following schedule:

• LOS-LBV 23:30-01:20 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
• LBV-LOS 02:20-04:10 (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)

Aero Contractors already flew to Libreville from 2007 to 2009. The destination is also served four times a week by Air Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Aero also introduced a so-called NAMA tax on tickets, after the introduction of a new mode of payment for terminal and navigational charges in Nigeria.

Aero Stops Jos And Kaduna Service

Aero announced it will – effective from 1 October 2010 – discontinue its daily flights from Lagos to Jos and Kaduna. Flights into the cities were launched in November 2009, but Aero says the routes are financially not viable.

Kaduna Airport is now served by Arik Air and IRS Airlines, while Arik Air and Overland Airways fly to Jos Airport.

Aero Unveils New Website

Aero (AeroContractors) has unveiled a new website: www.flyaero.com. The new website brings a fresh look and increased functionality for the airline’s customers. It looks good.

Meanwhile, Aero seems to have returned a Dash 8-100 (5N-DAP) to the lessor.

Aero B735 Mishap At Jos

An Aero B737-500 (5N-BLE) performing flight AJ345 from Lagos to Jos overran the wet runway while landing in Jos at around 18:00h on Saturday, 21 August. The Boeing aircraft came to a stop with nose gear and left main gear on soft ground. No injuries occurred among the 87 passengers and five crew, both nose wheel tyres deflated. The airline said that both nose gear tyres were punctured while landing in Jos. All occupants disembarked safely, no additional damage occurred to the airframe.

Aero's B737-500 (5N-BLE) at Jos Airport (Copyright 234next.com)

Aero May Relocate From MMA2 To GAT

Aero threatens that it may move its operations from the domestic Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) to the old General Aviation Terminal (GAT), because of the high charges levied by Bi-Courtney, the owners of MMA2. Negotiations between the two companies on the issue are ongoing.

On another note, Aero announced that it may blacklist passengers who assaults or abuses any of its employees.

Aero Strikes Deal With Creditor

Aero (Aero Contractors) announced that it has reached agreement to restructure its loans of about N33 billion ($220 million) with Oceanic Bank. The airline is now completely in hands of the Ibru Group as CHC Helicopter Corporation (CHC) ceded its 40% stake in the airline to the Ibru family. Aero and CHC will continue their technical relationship and concluded a new ten-year agreement.

This Week’s Update

• Air Nigeria settled the old Virgin Nigeria debt of $237 million with UBA. The airline has now cleared all its outstanding debts.
• Aero re-introduced a fuel surcharge of N500 on all its tickets. The surcharge is now approved by the NCAA.
• Aero announced the introduction of the first mobile web and SMS ticketing service in Africa. The service enables passengers to book and pay for their flight tickets using their mobile phones, and is aimed at empowering more passengers to travel by air regularly.
• Arik Air received the first Air Operator Certificate (AOC) under the new Federal Government mandatory recertification order.
• Two of Arik Air’s four B737s currently abroad for maintenance will return this week. The airline hopes that this will end the disruptions to its flight schedule. The airline is yet to pay its employees for last month though.
• Overland Airways’ ATR42 (5N-BCS) was ferried back to Nigeria after an overhaul at Dinard (France).
• The Federal Government will seek fresh bids for the construction of a second runway at Abuja’s airport after canceling a contract earlier awarded for the project.
• According to rumours the management of Bellview Airlines is trying to make a restart as ‘Nation Airways’ or ‘First Nation Airlines’, operating a fleet of A320s.