JULY 26, 2023

(Bloomberg) -- In a bid to ease overcrowding and meet elevated demand, Delta Airlines Inc. on July 25 opened its second lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy airport—a 14,000-square-foot space with a 360-degree bar and a sky deck, all just a few minutes’ walk away from its flagship lounge in the same terminal. 

SkyClub T4-A, as it’s being referred to, is located on Concourse A, whereas than the old lounge is in Concourse B, so it’s positioned closer to gates for domestic flights. As such, it’s set up for different passenger needs. It’s smaller than the Concourse B location, with capacity for 250 rather than the other lounge’s 550 maximum; it will be open from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily versus 4:45 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at Concourse B. It also skips certain amenities, such as showers, that are used primarily by travelers on overnight or long-haul routes.  

In their place are features that better suit a short-haul business or leisure traveler. Four private, soundproof booths are designed for Zoom meetings, with enclosed doors and height-adjustable desks. A glassed-in, covered sky deck  with ample seating—both at communal tables and individual window-side chairs—acts like a weather-proof patio with sweeping views of the airfield that can be enjoyed, even if it’s raining. (Maybe especially if it’s raining, given that storm-related delays will force more people into the lounge.) As with its other lounge locations, the airline now offers real-time information on its app about the SkyClub’s occupancy levels, ranging from “not busy” to “extremely busy.” 

“Air traffic is at peak right now,” Claude Roussel, managing director of Delta’s SkyClubs division, tells Bloomberg at a media event for the opening of the Concourse A location. “We know that there are lines at some of our lounges, so we’ve been adjusting our policies and adding seats throughout the lounge system.” Earlier this year, he explains, the airline restricted lounge access to those customers whose departures are within three hours. “It’s had some good results for us,” he says.

Passenger volumes and lounge seats are growing in tandem. Delta has over 230 daily departures from JFK to 95 destinations this summer, part of a $1.5 billion expansion plan at that hub, which has been in development for the past year and a half. Roussel adds that Delta’s 10 new gates in Concourse A will feed additional foot traffic to the new lounge; this means that T4-A is not a solution for spillover traffic to T4-B, rather a lounge for an entirely different audience.

At the very least, good food awaits those who come. The menu comes courtesy of chef Elyssa Heller, founder and chief executive officer of Edith's Eatery & Grocery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, with Jewish staples that include brisket hash sandwiches, vegetarian latkes and chocolate croissants. Around the buffet tables, white arches are meant to evoke the domes of New York’s Grand Central Station. And the bar serves up such signature drinks as  Espresso Martinis and Watermelon Fizzes. The in-the-round design, parked in the very center of the lounge, is a further way to optimize capacity and spread out the inevitable crowds. 

JULY 27, 2023

(Bloomberg) -- US airlines must install restrooms accessible to people with disabilities on the most-popular single-aisle jetliners under a new rule adopted on the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Department of Transportation, responding to growing complaints by advocates, announced the regulation on Wednesday. 

“Traveling can be stressful enough without worrying about being able to access a restroom. Yet today, millions of wheelchair users are forced to choose between dehydrating themselves before boarding a plane or avoiding air travel altogether,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a press release.

Widebody jets used on long-range flights already have such a requirement, but single-aisle jets such as Boeing Co.’s 737s and Airbus SE’s A320 family are increasingly flying for many hours, including on international routes, the DOT said. 

The requirement will be phased in over several years under the final rule. Newly built airliners with more than 125 seats must have lavatories large enough to accommodate people in wheelchairs after three years. Carriers will not have to retrofit accessible lavatories onto existing aircraft until restrooms are replaced. 

The rule also sets minimum requirements for specialized wheelchairs designed for maneuvering people aboard aircraft. 

JULY 28, 2023

Chinedu Eze writes that high airfares charged in Nigeria by international airlines could be traced to the lopsided Bilateral Air Service Agreements that was signed by the federal government, which does not protect Nigerian carriers and travellers.

It has become a cliché to say that Nigerian travellers pay the highest airfares to international destinations in West Africa and one of the highest in the world for any country that is not at war.

Recently, many observers linked the high fares to trapped fund of foreign airlines in Nigeria, which may have risen to $1 billion, but Nigerians have been paying relatively high fares since the last 20 years.

In November 2011, reports indicated that Nigeria fined British Airways $135 million and Virgin Atlantic Airways $100 million respectively for charging Nigerians outrageous fares. The former Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, alleged that the airlines were guilty of ‘abuse of a dominant position, fixing prices, abusing fuel surcharges and taking advantage of passengers’.

He said an investigation was carried out for several months, and it was found that the Lagos to London route had the highest ‘yield’ in the world.

“Many Nigerians have always felt exploited by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic and the then Director General of the NCAA stated it in clear terms accusing the airlines of “exploitation, “he said.

Of course, the two airlines resisted and defended themselves. In fact, they argued then that it was market forced that determined the fares they charged Nigerian travellers. The matter was later resolved and the two British airlines continued to operate to Nigeria.

Market Forces

Many travel agents will tell you that the high fares are determined by market forces, and that fares in Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic and Cameroon are far cheaper than Nigeria because more Nigerians travel and the situation is a matter of supply and demand. The agents will also say that due to the trapped funds, all the foreign airlines have removed their low inventories and now sell their high inventories; that is, for those that still sell tickets in naira because many of them sell in dollars. But it would have been a different situation if foreign airlines used to sell tickets at low fares to Nigerians in the past, but fares in Nigeria have always been higher than what could be obtained in neighbouring countries.

The BASA conundrum

Talking about demand and supply determining the fares, it is obvious that if Nigerian airlines are operating to Nigeria’s favourite destinations as well as the international carriers that come from those countries, fares charged on those destination would be competitive. They are high because those airlines have monopoly of direct flights to the destinations. Authoritative source told THISDAY that when Arik Air was operating to London as well as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, Nigerians were paying relatively lower fares and the fares rose by 40 per cent immediately Arik Air stopped flying to Heathrow, London.

Whenever Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) is discussed, many Nigerians tend to blame airlines and the countries that sign the agreement on behalf of their airlines, but travel expert and the organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market, Ambassador Ikechi Uko, told THISDAY that BASA remained open discussion and negotiation between two nations; that you don’t hold the other country responsible for your own failure. In other words, if you fail to negotiate well for your country and the other country took advantage of it, you don’t blame anyone but yourself.

THISDAY learnt that in negotiating for BASA and commercial agreements between a country and its airline (s), some countries, including African nations insist that foreign carriers can only operate to one destination and any multi-designation must involve partnership with indigenous airlines. Some would insist that increase in frequency would require that fares charged on a percentage of the seats should be paid to indigenous carriers or in the principle of reciprocity, if, for example, British Airways comes to Nigeria, a Nigerian carrier must also operate to the UK and the frequencies will also be agreed on.

But there is no indication that Nigeria gives any of these conditions while negotiating for BASA. In fact, what is obtainable, as narrated by inside sources, is a situation where foreign airlines come to Nigeria, operate a monopoly to their destination and increase their frequencies by meeting with officials at the Ministry of Aviation.

Uko said: “You cannot blame people when you fail to articulate your position. You have to decide what is important to you. What is our need? What do we want to achieve with aviation?”

Nigeria has the highest indigenous travellers in Africa but the country has not taken advantage of it. Last year, about 16 million people travelled in Nigeria. Out of that number, over four million who travelled were on in-bound and outbound international destinations. According to aviation experts, over 90 per cent of those travellers were indigenous Nigerians. This is not common in Africa, but the federal government has not taken advantage of that.

Protecting Nigerian Travellers, Airlines

Based on the lopesided bilateral agreements, foreign airlines determine fares and with high passenger movement, the airlines charge outrageous prices for their tickets. And because there are no clauses to enforce effective participation of local airlines in the bilateral agreements signed by Nigeria, they are sidelined in the scheme of things.

Recently the Chairman of Kings Airlines, Senator Musa Abebe and the Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, called for review of BASA by the federal government.

“They say Nigerian airlines do not have capacity; how will they have capacity when they are being decimated through government policies? So, the first reform will be to address the issue of BASA. We need to revisit BASA. We need to ban multi-city hopping of foreign airlines. That needs to stop with immediate effect. I am the vice president of AON (Airline Operators of Nigeria). We feel so discouraged that we are not being supported. At times you come and start comparing us to people who are receiving their loan with two percent interest and easily given. So, we call on government to support the indigenous carriers genuinely and they will make this country very proud,” Onyema said.

Former President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) and the Group Managing Director and CEO of Finchglow Holdings Limited, Bankole Bernard, told THISDAY that government needs to commit itself to the welfare of the citizens in terms of air travel because currently “government does not care whether price of tickets go up or not.

“In what ways have we positioned ourselves to benefit from our high passenger traffic? No local airline checkmates the high charges by foreign airlines through competition. For now, our problem has no solution,” Bernard said.

Inside source also told THISDAY that there was lack of commitment and patriotism among top officials of the Ministry of Aviation who negotiate bilateral and commercial agreements and who also designate frequencies and destinations for Nigerian carriers.

“Those who negotiate on our behalf do so with personal interest in mind. You will hear something like this: “If we allow you to fly two times daily and seven times a week, it will cost you and my boss likes your airline and he goes to Germany regularly. So, he will like it if you reserve business class seats for him and myself too. On our side, we will look at your request and do the needful,” the source told THISDAY.

Commitment

Seasoned industry consultant and the Managing Director of Flight and Logistics Solutions Limited, Mr. Amos Akpan said Nigerian government has to re-strategise her entire aviation development program, which will include reviewing bilateral air services agreements. He stressed that currently, it is not clear whose interest is served by the existing BASA arrangements, observing that Nigeria signs agreements that permit foreign airlines to carry passengers and cargo directly into and out of Port Harcourt, Lagos, Enugu, Abuja, Kaduna and Kano on scheduled flights.

Akpan disclosed that some foreign airlines operate seven to 14 frequencies per week to some of these airports without reprocity from Nigerian airlines, adding that these foreign airlines even carry passengers and cargo in between Nigerian domestic routes namely: Abuja-Kano, Lagos-Abuja, Abuja-Portharcourt.

“When other countries designate their airlines to Nigeria, our government institutions give them permit as required by existing agreements between the two countries. It behoves on the other countries to reciprocate when a Nigerian airline is designated to them. If they don’t, Nigerian institutions should respond with same measure. We are aware that some countries use regulatory agencies to create barriers for Nigerian airlines. For example, their airport authority may declare unavailable slots in the high traffic airport with connection flights. This sort of backdoor protectionism should be reciprocated by Nigerian agencies.

I am in support of free trade and free movement of people; and moreso,  serving the international travel needs of the Nigerian public. But do not say Nigerian airlines have no capacity so you tilt policies in favour of foreign airlines against our own. Where would we be in domestic air travels if private investors did not choose to establish and operate airlines?

“If the global yardstick to determine safety and quality of operations as set by ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) for airlines is IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit), the major airlines in Nigeria have successfully completed the IOSA program. Our airlines like Air Peace, Ibom Air, Max Air, have demonstrated capacity.

“What Nigeria needs now is atleast one hub airport. Passengers and cargo need air links beyond Lagos and Abuja to other destinations. That is what Dubai, Heathrow, Doha, Bole, Schipol are offering. The numerous frequencies and the high traffic that foreign airlines are carrying is because passengers and cargo can connect other destinations through their home airport. Nigerian airlines need such infrastructure to build their capacity,” Akpan said.

Investment

He also explained that Nigerian airlines need investment funding at rates that will enable the management breathe financially while they continue to operate to repay. There must be monitoring to ensure compliance with required corporate financial practices.

“Most importantly, we need to build/acquire information technology packages to link our systems with other airline operators in the world. It is safe to conclude that Nigerian airlines are safe and operationally in tandem with standard acceptable practices, but the government policies do not favour them as business competitors with their foreign counterparts. For example, there is no reason the Nigerian mission in Cote d’voire should allow Air Peace be denied, by delay tactics, permission to operate Lagos – Abidjan – Lagos route, whereas Air Ivoire has been operating that traffic. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace had to bring this to public notice in February this year. I hope this anomaly has been addressed.

“My point is that designation of airlines to use BASA is part of a deliberate strategic action to implement a country’s national economic agenda. It is not the protection or the projection of a partisan political interest, nor an ethnic religious interest. Nigerian government must see the designation of any Nigerian airline to another country as the exhibition of the Nigerian brand to the outside world. The relevant ministries and agencies must keep our national interest in perspective during negotiations and through the implementation of the operations. The airlines from your country, is as visible as your national team in international arena. That is how Emirates is to UAE, same applies to Ethiopian Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Qatar Airways,” Akpan said.

According to him, within Nigeria, Ibom Air is a classic show of Akwa Ibom state government’s brand in Nigeria, adding that Akwa Ibom State Government projects Ibom Air in and outside Uyo.

“Nigeria should not wait for Nigeria Air to be properly established before we designate some currently existing airlines and back them to compete on the international routes. When we designate an airline, Ministry of Foreign Affairs should see that the airline is accorded the rights and privileges contained in the existing BASA.  Currently, we expect that there is a desk in Nigeria mission in Saudi, China, India, UAE, South Africa, overseeing the affairs of Max Air in Saudi and Air Peace in the rest,” Akpan said.

So, government holds the key to redressing the lopesided bilateral agreements that facilitated the rip-off of Nigerian travellers and failure of Nigerian carriers to effectively compete on international routes.

JULY 28, 2023

(Bloomberg) -- Air France-KLM reported second-quarter earnings that beat expectations amid strong demand for air travel that the airline group said shows no sign of abating. 

Operating income rose 90% to €733 million ($806 million), exceeding analyst expectations of €649 million, as the number of passengers carried increased alongside higher load factors and strong yields, the group said on Friday. Sales rose 14% to €7.6 billion, also ahead of estimates.

The Franco-Dutch group said the booking environment remains robust, even for budget subsidiary Transavia, which in recent months was hurt by French air-traffic controller strikes and a fleet shortage in the Netherlands. 

“For us it’s still going strong,” Chief Financial Officer Steven Zaat said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “We see more premium traffic. As long as unemployment is not there, this demand will stay,” with a continued mismatch between supply and demand particularly on long-haul travel, he said.

Air France-KLM is not the only group still benefiting from robust demand for air travel that helped boost balance sheets after a prolonged period of restrictions during the pandemic. EasyJet Plc said a week ago that it continues to see strong booking momentum into the winter, and British Airways parent IAG SA on Friday reported better-than-expected profit in the second quarter on a surging demand. 

Expansion Plans

Still, concerns are mounting about the longer-term sustainability of demand as consumers struggle amid spiraling inflation and mortgage costs. Ryanair Holdings Plc on Monday lowered its full-year traffic prediction and said it would consider cutting ticket prices to fill seats this winter as passengers become more cost-sensitive.

The airline group expects to be at 95% capacity this year versus 2019 levels, and return to pre-pandemic levels as of 2024. At the Dutch KLM subsidiary, operations have “stabilized” in spite of supply chain snags, a tight labor market and fleet issues, the company said. 

Meanwhile, the group continues studying a possible bid Portuguese flag carrier TAP SA as the government in Lisbon seeks an industry backer for an airline it was forced to rescue during the pandemic.

“We are watching that very carefully,” Zaat said in the interview. “We are preparing for it, we are hiring advisers, we are waiting” for the process to start and “it will probably start after the summer.”

The company also said it entered exclusive talks with Apollo Global Management over a potential €1.5 billion financing for its loyalty program.

--With assistance from Lizzy Burden.

JULY 31, 2023

 Flight connectivity in and around the northern part of the country has worsened in recent times as prices skyrocket by almost 100 per cent…

By Abdullateef Aliyu

Flight connectivity in and around the northern part of the country has worsened in recent times as prices skyrocket by almost 100 per cent on the routes currently served, findings by Daily Trust have shown.

The situation became worse after the temporary suspension of Max Air, one of the airlines with a massive presence in the North.

However, there was relief yesterday as Max Air resumed operations starting with Kano-Abuja, Abuja-Lagos and Abuja-Lagos.

Daily Trust reports that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had on Thursday, July 13 suspended the operation of Max Air’s Boeing 737 aircraft type with immediate effect, thereby halting the airline’s domestic operations as those were the only planes it used for used on the operation.

The NCAA immediately commenced an audit of the airline to redress the identified safety-related issues which include the discovery of a huge volume of water in the fuel tank of one of the aircraft.

Max Air covers more northern states than other domestic carriers. It operates to Kano, Bauchi, Birnin Kebbi, Jos, Katsina, Maiduguri, Sokoto and Yola.

With Azman Air, another airline based in the North presently out of the radar as its aircraft had gone for maintenance, connectivity was further impaired for most travelers on the northern routes.

The implication was in the skyrocketing of fares on the routes served by the existing airlines on the major routes.

Before yesterday’s resumption of operations by Max Air, only Air Peace, Rano and Aero Contractors were operating Lagos-Kano, the busiest route in the North, as well as Abuja-Kano with the airfare increased by almost 100 per cent.

As of yesterday, checks by Daily Trust indicated that Lagos-Kano on Air Peace costs between N94,300 (being the cheapest) and N143,000 for a trip on Monday (today). For Rano Air, the Lagos-Kano flight was N100,000 while it costs N101,805 on Aero Contractors.

In June, the same Lagos-Kano flight was N43,000 on Air Peace; N50,000 on Azman Air; and N55,000 on Max Air if a passenger was booking ahead.

But as of today, the tickets have skyrocketed even as the Abuja-Kano flight cost almost N100,000 on Rano Air as of yesterday.

“Last week, I was ready to pay N90,000 to Kano from Abuja but it was fully booked. I couldn’t get a seat on Rano Air,” a passenger said yesterday.

Currently, several states in the North, including Maiduguri, Yola, Gombe, Bauchi, Kaduna, Sokoto, Katsina and Jos, hitherto connected by flights, are seriously underserved.

There is also no domestic flight on the Kaduna route at the moment while states like Taraba, Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara and Niger are not served by any airline despite having an airport.

Speaking with our correspondent, a Kano resident, Malam Abdullahi Musa, said the resumption of Max Air is a relief for travellers but connectivity remains an issue in northern states.

“We hope with the resumption of flights by Max Air, we will have some relief and the prices will reduce. We also learnt Azman may start operation soon. This I believe will provide more options,” he said.

Max Air resumes flights

About 17 days after suspension, Max Air yesterday resumed its domestic flights starting with the Abuja-Kano, Abuja-Katsina, and Lagos-Abuja routes.

The executive director of the airline, Barr. Shehu Wada, in a chat with our correspondent, also confirmed the resumption, saying the airline cooperated fully with the NCAA in the course of the audit after its domestic operation was suspended.

Why northern routes are underserved – Expert

Aviation analyst, Alhaji Bello Salihu, blamed the hike in airfares on the northern routes currently served by airlines on the principle of demand and supply. He said the airfares would be expensive because only a few airlines are on the routes.

Salihu, who is the managing director of Butake Resources Limited, a ground handling company, said it was wrong to conclude that northerners don’t fly and most airlines concentrate their flights on Lagos and Abuja.

“You find that all flights are concentrated to Lagos. All of them see Lagos as the only point of arrival or take-off. Anybody who tells you the routes in the North are not viable, maybe they are not viable for their idiosyncrasy that Northerners don’t fly but if you look at the history of flight operations, Abuja-Yola; Abuja-Maiduguri; Abuja-Gombe and Bauchi, they have a minimum 70 per cent load factor.

“And based on my knowledge of calculating the profitability of a flight, the direct and indirect cost of operating a 737 which is an average of one hour flight, the load factor of 55 to 60 per cent will give you a profitable flight.”

He however stated that some airlines avoid northern routes because of inadequacy of infrastructure and called on the federal and state governments with airports in the North to work out incentives to encourage airlines to operate the routes.

JULY 31, 2023

BY   Swati Pandey, Bloomberg News

, Source: CoreLogic

(Bloomberg) -- Australia’s house price growth decelerated in July following an increase in property listings that suggest sellers are taking advantage of current market strength, including those struggling to meet their obligations after rapid interest-rate increases. 

Prices across Australia’s capital cities advanced 0.8%, a fifth straight monthly gain, albeit slower than June’s 1.2% pace, data from property consultancy CoreLogic Inc. showed Tuesday. Market bellwether Sydney rose 0.9% while Melbourne grew at a more subdued 0.3%. 

July’s cooling was driven by the upper quartile of the market, which tends to lead the cycle and could be “a sign of a broader easing in the pace of growth over the coming months,” said Tim Lawless, research director at CoreLogic. 

The figures come as the the Reserve Bank has raised its key rate to 4.1% — the highest since April 2012 — hitting consumer sentiment. At the same time, Australia’s job market remains strong, with unemployment at an ultra-low 3.5%.

The cooling in property price momentum will be welcomed by the RBA ahead of its rate decision later Tuesday. Financial markets are betting the cash rate will remain unchanged while economists see a 25 basis-point hike to 4.35%. 

The central bank has lifted borrowing costs by 4 percentage points since May 2022 and signaled a higher hurdle to raise further as it tries to bring down inflation and engineer a soft landing. 

Tuesday’s data showed the flow of new home listings in capital city markets rose almost 4% over July, bucking a seasonal trend in which vendors traditionally put off sales during winter months.

“It may be the case that more home owners are picking current market conditions as a good time to sell,” said Lawless. “Another possibility is that we are seeing the first signs of motivated selling as the rapid rate hiking cycle catches up with household balance sheets.”

What Bloomberg Economics Says...

“Surprise rate hikes from the RBA in May and June, and a further 25-basis-point hike we expect in August, will further erode borrowing potential, which — along with the cumulative effect of tightening through 2022 and 2023 - will weigh on the market”

— James McIntyre, economist.

Even so, the data indicate the housing rebound that began earlier this year persists — over the three months to July, prices in Sydney surged 4.5% for a median home value of A$1.08 million ($720,000).

Strong population growth in Australia and a supply shortage has fueled price gains despite higher borrowing costs.

“Overall, the housing market remains resilient to a double dip downturn, with housing values continuing to trend higher across most regions of the country,” Lawless said. “The trend in advertised stock levels will be a key factor determining housing market outcomes.” 

AUGUST 01, 2023

(Bloomberg) -- The US tightened entry rules for Hungarians under its visa-waiver program, citing security concerns about a fast-track naturalization plan Prime Minister Viktor Orban put in place for people living outside Hungary’s borders.

The US will limit the number of times Hungarians can enter to once a year, rather than allowing multiple visits, and it will cut the period that electronic authorizations are valid under the ESTA program to one year, instead of two now.

“This change will go into effect immediately and remain until the security concerns underlying it are addressed,” the embassy said. The restrictions will only apply to new ESTA approvals and don’t prohibit travel to the US. Hungarians are also allowed to submit regular visa applications.

The US has been a vocal critic of Hungary over its lukewarm support of Ukraine after Russia’s invasion, as well as for the erosion of the rule of law under Orban’s 13-year rule. The new steps over entry into the country, however, are separate to that, according to a senior US government official, who asked not to be identified.

Still, the announcement came a day after Hungary’s ruling party boycotted a parliament meeting on Monday, torpedoing opposition efforts to ratify Sweden’s accession into NATO. Hungary and Turkey are the only members of the alliance yet to approve Sweden’s entry bid, blocking an expansion triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The naturalization program that’s under US scrutiny ran from 2011 to 2020 and granted citizenship to almost 1 million people as Orban pursued a nationalist vision to enfranchise mostly ethnic Hungarians living outside of his country’s borders. 

But background checks were inadequate and some people who received passports from the European Union and NATO member were alleged criminals and people using fake identities, raising serious security vulnerabilities, according to the US official. Some had no connection to Hungary, the official added.

Hungarian authorities had refused to address the concerns despite years of bilateral talks with the US, including during the previous administration led by former President Donald Trump.

Hungary’s government said its refusal to share data on its dual citizens had prompted the US restrictions. Some of Hungary’s neighbors bar dual citizenship, putting those living there and also holding Hungarian passports in a potentially precarious position.

“Hungary doesn’t share that with anyone because the safety of Hungarians abroad is at stake,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement, referring to its of passport holders who live abroad.

Currently the citizens of 40 countries have access to the ESTA program, including most of Hungary’s EU allies, which allows people to travel to the US for business or tourism for stays of up to 90 days without a visa.

(Updates with Hungarian government’s reaction in ninth and 10th paragraphs.)

AUGUST 01, 2023

Saudi Airline has launched a new aircraft and new office in Kano in an effort to improve access to business, tourism and religious opportunities to…

By Zahraddeen Yakubu Shuaibu

Saudi Airline has launched a new aircraft and new office in Kano in an effort to improve access to business, tourism and religious opportunities to Nigerians and Africans in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Consul General to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Kano,  Kahlil Ahmed Admawi said Saudi Airline has been in existence in Kano for many decades as the first branch was opened in the state in 1982.

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He said over the past years, it has been serving the people of the state by offering thorough guidance to the populace willing to visit Saudi Arabia for businesses, religious and tourism purposes. 

“Today, we are pleased with the opening of the new Saudi Airline and the new aircraft. It is the right place to guide those wishing to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and enjoy spending comfortable times and tourism in addition to recreational, cultural and health tourism.”

Also speaking, the President of the Coalition of Northern States Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (CONSCCIMA), Alhaji Dalhatu Abubakar said the coming back of Saudi Airline is a welcome development which in return will enhance the economic growth and development of not only Kane state or Nigeria in particular but the entire West African sub-region in general.

On his part, the Country Manager of the Saudi Airline in Sudan and Nigeria, Engr. Emad Assubhi appreciated the Kano community for the good business relationship and hinted at plans to open another branch in Abuja.

AUGUST 01, 2023

BY  Michelle Ma, Bloomberg News

(Bloomberg) -- Electric aircraft startup Pyka has received approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate its uncrewed zero-emissions aircraft commercially in the US, the company announced Tuesday. 

The aircraft, called Pelican Spray, is a highly automated, 1,125-pound crop sprayer, the largest ever uncrewed aircraft system to receive FAA authorization for commercial operation in the US, according to chief operating officer and co-founder Chuma Ogunwole. 

The Oakland-based company currently leases its battery-operated aircraft to agricultural and crop-spraying companies in Costa Rica, Honduras and Brazil, helping spray pesticides and fungicides for crops like bananas, cotton, soy and corn. With FAA approval in place, it plans on expanding to farms in the US.

Getting FAA authorization for passenger aircrafts is a long and difficult process and a significant hurdle for the electric aviation industry. The main challenge to electrifying commercial passenger aviation, though, is the limitations of battery technology that make it infeasible to fly any meaningful distance with multiple passengers onboard. For context, Pyka’s small, uncrewed crop sprayers need to land every 15 minutes anyway to refill their chemical tanks, which is also when their batteries are swapped. The crafts are able to carry up to 540 pounds of liquid.

The startup intentionally focused on developing uncrewed vehicles in part because they are easier to get regulatory approval, said chief executive officer and co-founder Michael Norcia. Pyka also recently released a cargo aircraft with around 70 cubic feet of cargo volume — about as much as a Subaru Forester — that is awaiting FAA approval. The two aircrafts are the company’s attempt to “build trust in the technology” before the industry is able to move towards fully electrified passenger aircrafts, he said.

Aviation accounts for roughly 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Given the challenges of electrification, most airlines have focused on purchasing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which can be made synthetically or using things like plant waste and cooking oil. Those fuels can then be blended with traditional fuels and don’t require planes to install new engines. But SAF is still far from mass commercialization and currently very expensive compared to conventional jet fuel. 

Despite the current challenges for both approaches, Norcia said he sees a future 20 years from now in which electric aircrafts run regional, short-haul flights and SAF-powered fleets operate long-haul flights.

AUGUST 01, 2023

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday declared that within the next few months, cargo planes will be departing from Nigeria airports fully loaded…

By Abdullateef Aliyu

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday declared that within the next few months, cargo planes will be departing from Nigeria airports fully loaded with goods that meet destination standards and acceptance.

Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, Mr Kabir Yusuf, stated this when he performed the ground-breaking of the first Aviation Cargo Village at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The Cargo Village to be sited on 2.7 hectares of land along the MMIA road would be a one-stop centre for processing, packaging, documentation, data processing and laboratory facilities for cargo exports.

The establishment of the Aviation Cargo Village was one of the recommendations at the first Aviation and Cargo Conference in 2021, codenamed “CHINET 21” which is being implemented by FAAN Avia-Cargo Committee.

The managing director said establishing an Avia-Cargo Village was identified as one of the quick wins in addressing the rejection of Nigeria’s avia-cargo exports, and increasing exports and earnings.

Chairman of the Avia-Cargo Committee, Ambassador Ikechi Uko, said the cargo village building would be a great leap for Nigeria in its bid to emerge as the number one in Africa from the current 5th position in cargo exports.

He explained that the cargo village would be implemented as a public-private-partnership (PPP) project, adding that there would be export laboratories, packaging companies and other relevant bodies would be on ground.