Kabo Air’s B742 (5N-MAD) finally to be repainted

Kabo Air has signed a contract with GMF AeorAsia to peform maintenance on its B747-200 (5N-MAD) and to repaint the aircraft in Kabo’s colours. The aircraft is now wearing a hybrid Northwest Airlines, Biman Bangladesh and Kabo Air livery.

Kabo Air - B742 - 5N-MAD (copyright Konstantin von Wedelstaedt)

Kabo Air B742 (5N-JRM) Back In Service

The Kabo Air B747-200 that was damaged after a collision with a MEA aircraft at Kano Airport last year is apparently back in service. The aircraft was chartered by the Nigerian government to evacuate Nigerians from Libya. Kabo Air used two of its three B742s (5N-MAD and 5N-JRM) for the operation. The airline also evacuated Nigerian nationals from Egypt earlier this year.

Kabo Air at Abuja Airport - B742 - 5N-JRM

From The Olden Days: Bac 1-11s in Nigeria

After the Nigerian aviation market was liberalised in the early 1990s, many private airlines emerged and the Bac 1-11 became one of their favourite aircraft. Kabo Air and Okada Air were the largest operators and served many airports for relatively low fares. In 2002 the Bac 1-11 was banned in Nigeria after a couple of ghastly accidents in which the aircraft was involved. Many of the airlines went down and the Bac 1-11s were stored at airports around the country. Most notably in Benin, where derelict aircraft can still be seen around the old Okada Air hangar.

A comprehensive list of Bac 1-11 operators in Nigeria can be found here. All of them were second-hand aircraft, although in 1970 a Bac 1-11 was painted in Nigeria Airways colours for demonstration flights. The national carrier never ordered the aircraft.

Bac 1-11 in Nigerian Airways colours for demo flights in 1970 (Copyright www.bac1-11jet.co.uk)

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.

MaxAir To Lift 36,000 Hajj Pilgrims

MaxAir announced it will fly 36,000 pilgrims (43% of the total number) to Saudi Arabia this year, following the allocation by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). The airline will use its three B743 aircraft for the operation and keep a fourth as standby aircraft.

Kabo Air, Meridian Airlines and Medview Airline will be responsible for carrying the remaining Hajj pilgrims. Meridian and Medview will have to wet-lease aircraft for this end, while Kabo Air may employ its B742 aircraft.

Fleet Updates

A few fleet updates:

• Kabo Air acquired a B767-300 (5N-ASG; CN 23436), still stored at Victorville. This aircraft was initially destined for Tradecraft Air. Update this information is incorrect; the aircraft went to a charter airline called 19 Trade Craft.
• The lessor took possession of Air Midwest’s single B737-500 (5N-PVA). The aircraft is re-registered N495MS.
• Chanchangi Airlines announced that one of its B732s (5N-BIH) will soon be back in Nigeria after overhaul in China

Update: Air Midwest’s former B737 (without logo’s and titles) was flown back to Shannon in November 2010.

Hajj Carriers 2010

The Federal Government has approved Kabo Air, MaxAir, Meridian Airlines and Medview Airline as official carriers to airlift Nigerian pilgrims during the Hajj of 2010.

This Week’s Update

• IRS Airlines has a booking website again.
• Arik Air postponed the introduction of the A332 due to regulatory issues.
• Air Nigeria’s first newly branded aircraft (5N-VND) returned to Lagos last week. Jimoh Ibrahim declared that in a few weeks, the airline would have liquidated all its debts. Air Nigeria also announced it will add five aircraft to its fleet before October.
• The Bangladesh Ministry of Aviation blocked the extension of the lease of a Kabo Air B747-200 by Biman.
• A Max Air B747-300 carrying Ghanaian football fans was grounded at Johannesburg after it entered South African airspace without approval.

Short Update: Air Nigeria, Kabo Air, Arik Air, and Aero

• The CEO of Air Nigeria, Kinfe Kahssaye, announced that the carrier is in the process of leasing another three or four 737s – all older variants – which will bring its fleet to around 11 aircraft in three months’ time. Air Nigeria also intends to modernise by leasing ‘a number’ of modern-variant Boeing 737s ‘in the near future’. He says the airline plans to introduce them in the first half of 2011.
• The ERJ-145LR (5N-BJM) owned by the Bauchi State Government is now leased to Kabo Air and recently received the airline’s livery.
• Arik Air delayed the introduction of the A332 (5N-EIA) again; the aircraft is still at Châteauroux. The airline will now switch an A345 from the Lagos-London route to the Lagos-Johannesburg route to cope with the World Cup traffic. Flights to London will be operated with a B738.
• Media reports that CHC Helicopter and Aero Contractors had severed their business relationship are incorrect. Although Aero is facing challenging times, CHC Helicopter continues to support its business partner and to provide flying services for oil and gas industry.

This Week’s Update

The Arik Air B737 (5N-MJJ) involved in the incident at Calabar was ferried to Lagos for inspection and repair. The damage turns out to be less worse than thought.

Chanchangi Airlines has only one operational aircraft at the moment. All other aircraft are grounded or abroad for maintenance checks. The airline has serious financial problems too.

Airlines in Nigeria threatened to stop operations on in the coming week. This decision was made after the NAMA management issued a ‘Pay before Departure’ memo to airlines in Nigeria mandating them to clear their navigational charges on ‘cash and carry’ basis effective from April 9, as most airlines have become ‘perpetual debtors’ to the agency. For instance, Arik Air allegedly is indebted to the NAMA to the tune of $1.5million.

The first two 3D body scanners are being installed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, by the Federal Government.

According to unconfirmed reports Kabo Air suspended its scheduled flights to Cairo, Dubai and Jeddah.

Sudan Airways has resumed operations to Kano Airport this week.

Tradecraft Air – New Charter Airline?

Last year an airline called Tradecraft Air (sometimes referred to as Trade Craft Air) was designated to carry pilgrims from Ilorin and Lagos to Jeddah. Reportedly, the company used two leased B767s. Tradecraft Air now appears to have acquired a B767-300 of its own. This means that the airline joins Kabo Air and MaxAir as pilgrims charter carrier in Nigeria.

Update: it’s an ex-Delta B767-300 (serial 23436).

Incidents At Kano And Lagos

An unconfirmed report says that a MEA A330 yesterday damaged its left winglet after taxiing into Kabo Air’s B747-200 (5N-JRM). The second aircraft suffered some damage too. The airport is full of parked aircraft at Kano and it appears that the tarmac was badly lighted.

Earlier this week, on Monday, an AirFrance B777 aborted take-off at Lagos Airport because of a technical problem, resulting in a burst tire.

Kabo Air B757 Wet-Lease

Kabo Air substituted the wet-leased B767 (TF-FIB) for a B757 (TF-FIJ) from Icelandair. The Kano-based carrier uses the aircraft for its scheduled flights to Cairo, Dubai and Jeddah.

Kabo Air Announces Domestic Flights

Kabo Air announced its return to the Nigerian domestic market with scheduled flights between Lagos, Abuja and Kano.

Apart from the Hajj charters operated with their B742s, Kabo Air also wet-leases a B763 from Icelandair for its scheduled flights from Abuja and Kano to Cairo, Dubai and Jeddah.

Bauchi State ERJ-145LR Update

The ERJ-145LR (5N-BJM; without titles) owned by the Bauchi State government is ferried to Alverca, Portugal, for overhaul. This aircraft was leased to IRS Airlines, but it may now be leased to Kabo Air.

Kabo Air B767

Kabo Air now applied its livery to the B763 (TF-FIB) wet-leased from Icelandair for its scheduled flights from Abuja and Kano to Cairo, Dubai and Jeddah. It’s certainly one of the ugliest painted aircraft operating in Nigeria.

Nigerian Hajj Airlines (2009)

Four Nigerian charter airlines are operating the annual hajj flights from various Nigerian airports to Saudi Arabia:

• Kabo Air: 3xB742 (5N-MAD, 5N-DKB, and 5N-JRM)
• MaxAir: 4xB743 (5N-BMG, 5N-DBM, 5N-DDK, and 5N-MBB)
• Med-View Airline: 2xB763 and 1xL1011 (leased from Euroatlantic Airways)
• Meridian Airlines: 1xB743 (from an unidentified lessor)

Note: Kabo Air also wet-leases a B763 from Icelandair for scheduled operations from Abuja and Kano to Cairo, Dubai and Jeddah.