Travel News

BY  Juliana Ajayi and Tunde Oyekola

In another development, Air Peace Limited has commenced daily flight operations to Ilorin from Lagos and Ilorin to Abuja.

The airline which recently announced the arrival of two E195-E2 Embraer aircraft, and a third aircraft expected this month, said the Ilorin flights was part of its expansion drive and realisation of its no-city-level-behind policy to connect major cities in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the airline disclosed that the inaugural P47110 fight from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos landed at the Ilorin International Airport by 11am amidst excitement from stakeholders.

The Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, represented by the Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, National President of the Ilorin Emirates Descendants Progressive Union, Alhaji Ota Uthman, were among those on ground to welcome the flight.

The Safety Manager for Air Peace Limited, representing the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Allen Onyema, said the Ilorin flights signified the provision of more network options and connectivity for the people in the Middle Belt region.

He noted that the expansion would create employment opportunities and boost the state’s economy.

BY  Okechukwu Nnodim

The Federal Government has been pushing airline operators to purchase and deploy brand new aircraft to have better impact on the sector and the Nigerian economy, the Chairman, Air Peace Airlines, Allen Onyema, said on Thursday.

Onyema, who doubles as the Vice President of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria, said this at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as Air Peace received its third Embraer 195-E2 aircraft.

He said the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had been challenging operators to bring brand new planes due to the economic benefits of such aircraft and the ability to cut operational cost when using them.

Onyema said, “He (Sirika) didn’t want Nigeria to be a dumping ground for old planes; not that the old planes are not safe, but at the same time, he has to protect the economy of the nation.

“The amount of money spent on maintaining old planes is huge, as whatever you make you give it to the MROs (maintenance, repair and overhaul firms).”

He added, “At that time many of us did not understand it. However, later we started to understand why the government through the minister is pushing that we should purchase brand new planes.”

On what the government was doing to support airlines in the purchase of brand new aircraft, Onyema said it waived customs duty after the requests of airlines, as led by the aviation minister.

“Today we have customs duty waiver; we have VAT removed from airlines’ tickets and importation of aircraft. If not so, I would have spent over N1bn on the import of this aircraft we are receiving today,” the Air Peace boss stated.

Also speaking at the event, the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Musa Nuhu, said the Embraer 195-E2 aircraft received by Air Peace was not only brand new but was the right sized aircraft for the Nigerian market.

He said the government had been calling for the deployment of brand new planes because the operating cost of such planes were lower, their safety was good and their deployment would enable operators break even faster.

For the Embraer 195-E2 aircraft, Nuhu described it as environmentally friendly with less noise and less pollution. He enjoined other operators to consider acquiring similar planes.

BY  Ifeoma Okeke

All international flights on Friday diverted their Lagos-bound flights to Abuja airport over non-functional runway lights at the Lagos airport.

Passengers supposed to arrive from other countries into Lagos on Friday are currently stranded in Abuja airport over inability of airlines to land at Nigeria’s mega city.

On Friday, British Airways sent a message to it’s passengers that it’s Friday flight from London to Lagos had to divert to Abuja airport due to local infrastructure issues in Lagos.

The message reads: “BA075 Lagos – We’re very sorry your flight to Lagos had to divert to Abuja due to local infrastructure issues in Lagos. Your new estimated departure time is on 19th June at 12:00 local time, arriving into Lagos at around 13:30 local time.

” Transport from the hotel will depart for the airport at 08:00 local time. Please continue to check ba.com/flight status.”

A source close to one of the agencies told BusinessDay that flights couldn’t land on Friday night because the runway lights were not functioning at the time.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) was yet to respond to the issue but findings show that other airlines may be diverting Lagos flights on Saturday for the same reason.

BY Ifeoma Okeke

…airline yet to get air operating certificate

Green Africa has temporarily suspended new bookings on its site as Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has delayed the operations of the airline till July 2021.

At a joint meeting between top officials of the regulatory body and senior executives of Green Africa, it was concluded that the airline’s Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) will not be available till July 2021 due to unforeseen circumstances.

“This is certainly a bump in the road, and we are mindful of the impact especially on our customers and other stakeholders,” said Babawande Afolabi, founder and CEO of Green Africa.

“However, we are confident of the NCAA’s support and commitment to get Green Africa into service, and we have also put plans in place to compensate our affected customers,” he said.

Green Africa said in a statement that to mitigate any further occurrence, new bookings on greenafrica.com have been temporarily suspended and customers who booked previously would be contacted.

“All customers who have booked flights with Green Africa will be able to move their flights to future dates starting August 2021 at no extra charge,” the statement said.

“Further, in appreciation of the trust from the airline’s early customers and in recognition of the inconvenience of rebooking, each customer will receive an automated email with 50 percent of the value of their booking in a credit shell within seven days. This can be used to purchase another ticket with Green Africa,” it stated.

BY  Abdullateef Aliyu

Air Peace on Thursday commenced daily flights to Ilorin from Lagos and Ilorin to Abuja as part of its expansion drive and realisation of its no-city-left-behind policy to connect major cities in Nigeria. 

The inaugural flight from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos landed at the Ilorin International Airport around 11:00 a.m amid excitement from stakeholders and representatives of the state government led by the Deputy Governor of the state, Otunba Kayode Alabi, who represented Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

Also, the National President of the Ilorin Emirates Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) representing Ilorin indigenes at home and in the Diaspora, Alhaji Ota Aliyu Uthman, was on ground to welcome the flight.

The inaugural flight P47110 commanded by Capt Adeoye Ajibola on the airline’s B737-500 had 48 passengers onboard.

Safety Manager of the Airline, Capt. Godfrey Ogbogu, who represented the Chairman/CEO of the Airline, Mr. Allen Onyema said the commencement of the Ilorin flights “signifies the provision of more network options and connectivity for the people in the Middle Belt region.”

Ogbogu described the daily flights into Ilorin from Lagos and Abuja as “a momentous feat”, saying it would boost the economy of the state and generate employment for the unemployed people in the state.

He said, “If you have been keeping tabs on the trajectory of Air Peace, you will have noticed our strategic and consistent route network expansion.

“This is driven by our unwavering resolve to plug the gaps in Nigeria’s Air travel and more importantly, give the Nigerian flying public multiple network options.

“We are famed for our ‘no-city-level-behind’ initiative. The goal, really, is to interconnect various cities in Nigeria and beyond to tremendously impact the country’s economic indices.

“And this explains why we have also extended our wings to Ilorin. With the support of the state government, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, whom we are profusely grateful to, Air Peace is promising the people of Ilorin and its environs seamless and affordable air travel.

“Air Peace is a socially sensitive and responsive airline, and as such, we are constantly reviewing our route network vis-à-vis the public’s needs while factoring strategic ways of expanding it to provide enormous value to Nigerians. That is precisely what today’s inaugural flight into Ilorin represents.

“As we commence daily flights into Ilorin from Lagos and Abuja today, we are promising that this new route will be optimally serviced, and Nigerians, especially Ilorin residents, will vastly benefit from it.

“We also pledge to work concertedly with all the stakeholders in the state, the aviation regulator, the airport administrator, and of course the state government to ensure we maximise the gains of air travel and sustain the impact.”

He solicited, “the continued support and cooperation of all relevant stakeholders for the airline to keep soaring high.”

The state Deputy Governor in his remarks hailed the airline for taking a great management decision to commence the flights into Ilorin from Lagos and Abuja.

Noting that the Air Peace flight would support the state’s drive towards industrialization, the Deputy Governor explained that the inaugural flight testifies to how the state has evolved as a new investment destination in Nigeria.

He promised that the state government would provide the requisite support and encouragement for the airline to succeed on Ilorin route.

The Vice-President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), South-West Zone, Comrade Ezekiel Afolabi commended Air Peace for the bold decision to connect Ilorin, urging the airline to replicate the same in other states in the South-West.

BY Gbenga Adeniji

The US Mission to Nigeria has said it is aware of websites and messages promoting fake US Diversity visa lottery.

In a statement on Friday by the mission, it stated that the sites were fake and provided websites where accurate information regarding the lottery could be obtained.

The statement indicated, “The US Mission to Nigeria is aware of websites and messages advertising the U.S. visa lottery. All of these sites are FAKE! The only accurate information on the visa lottery is available at ng.usembassy.gov and travel.state.gov. Addresses that have a .gov are the only accurate source of visa information.’’

Some of the fake messages which circulated online, especially on WhatsApp, announced online registration for the migrant lottery and urged Nigerians to take a chance of living in the US by applying for the US Green Card lottery. The message read, “The Green Card unlocks the door to the United States for thousands of USA fans every year. It allows the lucky Green Card winners permanent residence as well as unlimited work permit for the USA. Every year, the United States grants 55,000 Green Cards through the Green Card Lottery.’’

The Immigration Act of 1990 established the Diversity Visa programme, where 55,000 immigrant visas would be available in an annual lottery, starting in fiscal year 1995. The lottery was initiated to diversify the immigrant population in the United States, by selecting applicants mostly from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States in the previous five years.

Earlier, the US consulate in Nigeria noted on its website that Nigerians were no longer eligible for the Diversity Visa Lottery.

It stated, “Only people that were born outside of Nigeria or have parents that were born outside of Nigeria are eligible for the Diversity Visa. If you were born in Nigeria to Nigerian born parents, you are not eligible for the visa lottery. Some websites and emails attempt to mislead customers, posing as providers of official U.S. government information.’’

BY Segun Adewole

Restrictions on direct flights between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates caused by the use of rapid COVID-19 tests has been lifted.

This was announced by UAE authorities on Saturday while giving updates on travel protocols for inbound passengers from Nigeria, South Africa and India.

While South African and Indian passengers are expected to prove they are have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, Nigerians are to provide a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure. Also, a certificate and QR code from a government-approved laboratory is required.

This becomes effective from June 23, the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Management in Dubai, stated as reported by Channels TV.

Before the new update, Nigerians had to quarantine for 14 days in other countries before gaining access to the UAE.

Aviation giant Emirates said Sunday it will resume flights from India from next week, after Dubai lifted a ban imposed when coronavirus cases spiked.

The United Arab Emirates, which includes Dubai, suspended all flights from India — including for transit passengers — in April in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“We will resume carrying passengers from South Africa, Nigeria and India… from June 23,” Emirates said in a statement.

Dubai said on Saturday that only passengers from India “with a valid residence visa and who have received two doses of a UAE-approved vaccine” would be allowed to travel to the emirate.

They would also need a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure, a rapid test four hours before departure, and another PCR test on arrival with “institutional quarantine” required until the results are received.

Dubai authorities did not specify the rules for transit passengers and Emirates did not say whether transit passengers were allowed to fly through Dubai en route to third nations.

Some 300 flights a week were operating between the UAE and India before the ban was announced in April, according to local media, making the air corridor one of the busiest in the world.

The UAE is home to some 3.3 million Indians who make up a third of the population — most of them in Dubai.

Some Indians who had been stranded in their homeland during a coronavirus surge had hired private jets to take them back to the UAE, which had exempted private jets from the ban.

BY  Leslie Josephs

BY  Reed Landberg, Bloomberg News

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 16: A man wearing a protective mask walks into departures at terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport on March 16, 2020 in London, England. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to gather pace, travel companies and airlines have seen a slump in demand, forcing them to lay off staff and cut flights. British Airways owner IAG has announced that it will cut capacity by around 75% over coming months as the company fights heavy losses in demand. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) , Photographer: Leon Neal/Getty Images Europe

(Bloomberg) --

The U.K. government signaled it will keep restrictions on overseas travel in place for now to control a surge in coronavirus infections and the risk of new variants of the virus taking hold.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said “normal” holidays were “never going to be the case” this year because of increasing Covid-19 cases. His comments indicate increasing concern about a third wave of cases in the U.K. despite one of the world’s most aggressive vaccination programs.

“There are going to have to be significant trade-offs” Buckland said on Sky News’s Trevor Phillips show on Sunday. “We’ve tried to strike the right balance between the natural need in some cases for international travel, but also the imperative of making sure that we do everything we can at home to contain and prevent inadvertent spread of new variants.”

The remarks are a blow to airlines and a growing number of members of Parliament in the ruling Conservative Party pressing for the government to loosen restrictions. While the U.S. and European Union are starting to open borders for travel, Britain has rules requiring quarantine and Covid testing for travelers arriving from most places.

Liam Fox, the former Conservative cabinet minister in charge of trade policy, urged the government to find a way for those who have received two doses of a vaccine to travel without having to quarantine.

“The world cannot be closed down and that, sooner or later, we will have to learn to live with Covid-19 just as we have learned to live with other viral illnesses over time,” Fox wrote in a column for the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office confirmed that officials are considering plans to open up international travel for passengers who’ve been fully inoculated. They didn’t give an indication when the measures could be in place.

For now, health authorities are urging the government to move slowly in lowering restrictions, especially on foreign travel.

“The extra time to vaccinate more people, get two doses of vaccination in as many people as possible will hopefully mean that what we’re seeing with this wave won’t look the same as the previous waves that we’ve seen in this country,” Susan Hopkins, the strategic response director at Public Health England, said on British Broadcasting Corp.’s “Andrew Marr” show.

While Hopkins said the country is moving toward living with Covid-19 as it does with influenza and other respiratory infections, “we may need to do further lockdowns this winter” if hospitals become overwhelmed. “We should predominantly holiday at home this summer.”

Under current rules, destinations are coded red for the highest coronavirus infection risk, amber for medium risk and green for the lowest risk. Travelers are advised against going to amber or red list countries.

People who arrive in England from destinations on the amber list must quarantine at home or in the place where they are staying for 10 days, and take at least two Covid-19 tests during the period. Airlines have criticized the policy, especially after Portugal was abruptly taken off the green list earlier this month, dealing a blow to the summer travel season.

The number of flights into and out of the U.K. has plunged 73% from 2019 levels, eliminating or putting on furlough 860,000 jobs in travel and tourism that now risk being lost, according to the British Airline Pilots Association.

“The U.K. aviation industry is the hardest hit in Europe,” said Brian Strutton, general secretary of the industry group, said in a statement on Sunday. “Hapless ministers give all the appearance of deliberately attacking aviation and tormenting the public with their mixed messages over summer holidays.”

Buckland told Sky News “we are doing our very best to maintain that balance with regular reviews of the regulations to allow the maximum flexibility.”