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Ethiopian Airlines considering order for at least 20 regional jets, CEO says - REUTERS

JUNE 03, 2025

by Shivansh Tiwary


NEW DELHI, June 2 (Reuters) – Ethiopian Airlines is looking to order at least 20 regional or small narrowbody jets as it moves to expand its domestic fleet and replace some ageing aircraft, the airline’s chief executive told Reuters on Monday.

“We are evaluating three aircraft models, the E-2 from Embraer, the A220 from Airbus, and the 737 MAX 7 from Boeing,” CEO Mesfin Tasew Bekele said in an interview.

The final order quantity will depend on the type chosen, he added. Boeing’s 737 MAX 7, which has a larger seating capacity and sits at the bottom of a larger category than the Airbus A220 and Embraer E-2, is yet to be certified.

Africa’s largest carrier is experiencing strong travel demand but has been constrained by jet delivery delays and the grounding of some aircraft due to engine shortages stemming from supply chain disruptions.

“We are receiving airplanes from both Boeing and Airbus, but deliveries have been delayed, some by three months, some six months, some more,” Bekele said on the sidelines of an annual IATA meeting of global airline leaders.

The company is also in talks with lessors to bring onboard some jets to ease capacity constraints.

The airline is among several facing grounded aircraft due to bottlenecks in engine maintenance plants. Ethiopian has three Boeing 787 widebody jets grounded due to a shortage of Rolls-Royce engines, with five turboprop aircraft grounded due to a shortage of RTX’s Pratt & Whitney engines.

“Normally engines were supposed to be repaired and returned in three months typically, but now it takes six months or even more to get them repaired and returned,” Bekele said.

(Reporting by Shivansh Tiwary in New Delhi. Editing by Jamie Freed and Mark Potter)

Nigeria's defence chief proposes fencing borders to curb insecurity - REUTERS

JUNE 03, 2025

ABUJA, June 3 (Reuters) - Nigeria's defence chief on Tuesday called for the country's borders with its four neighbours to be completely fenced to curb the entrance of armed groups amid escalating insecurity.
Nigeria's military has been strained by widespread security issues, particularly a 16-year insurgency in the northeast led by Islamist militant group Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province. Security forces and civilians have been attacked and killed and tens of thousands of people have been displaced.

BoE's Bailey sticks with 'careful' rate cut view as uncertainty deepens - REUTERS

JUNE 03, 2025

By  and 

Summary

  • BoE's Bailey says greater uncertainty requires gradual approach
  • Breeden says Trump tariffs not key for her May vote to cut rates
  • Dhingra says supply chain points to medium-term inflation fall
  • Bailey says Mann right to consider QT in view of changed markets

LONDON, June 3 (Reuters) - Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said on Tuesday he was sticking with a "gradual and careful" approach to cutting interest rates as global trade policy turmoil increasingly clouds the outlook.
The BoE cut interest rates last month to 4.25% in a three-way split vote. It cited "heightened unpredictability" with markets buffeted by U.S. President Donald Trump's rapidly shifting trade policy.


"I think the path (for interest rates) remains downwards, but how far and how quickly is now shrouded in a lot more uncertainty," Bailey told parliament's Treasury Committee.

Egypt plans desert city supplied with diverted Nile water - REUTERS

JUNE 03, 2025

CAIRO, June 1 (Reuters) - Egypt unveiled plans on Sunday to build a desert city that will see about 7% of Egypt's annual Nile River quota rerouted from fertile delta land to pass by upscale glass-fronted housing units and eventually a large agricultural project.
Egypt, facing mounting water shortagespower constraints, and a deepening economic crisis, wants the development to help increase the value of state assets and boost land prices through "non-traditional, innovative ideas," Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said in a statement announcing the project.

Again, Nigeria maintains clean bill as $1.3bn airline funds remain blocked - DAILY TRUST

JUNE 04, 2025

ByAbdullateef Aliyu, Lagos

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) yesterday reported that $1.3 billion in airline funds are blocked from repatriation by governments as of end of April 2025.

According to IATA, this is a significant amount, although it is an improvement of 25% compared with the $1.7 billion reported for October 2024.

The association stated that 10 countries account for 80% of the total blocked funds, amounting to $1.03 billion.

However, Nigeria is not on the list again having cleared over $700m airlines’ blocked funds as of last year, thereby exiting the debtors’ list.

    At its peak in June 2023, Nigeria’s blocked funds amounted to $850 million, significantly affecting airline operations and finances in the country. 

    However, as of April 2024, 98% of these funds have been cleared as IATA confirmed, saying the remaining $19 million was due to the Central Bank’s ongoing verification of outstanding forward claims filed by the commercial banks.  

    In a report yesterday, the association representing 80 per cent of global airlines urged governments to remove all barriers preventing airlines from the timely repatriation of their revenues from ticket sales and other activities in accordance with international agreements and treaty obligations.

    “Ensuring the timely repatriation of revenues is vital for airlines to cover dollar-denominated expenses and maintain their operations. Delays and denials violate bilateral agreements and increase exchange rate risks. Reliable access to revenues is critical for any business—particularly airlines which operate on very thin margins. Economies and jobs rely on international connectivity. Governments must realize that it is a challenge for airlines to maintain connectivity when revenue repatriation is denied or delayed,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

     

    Pakistan and Bangladesh, previously in the top five blocked funds countries, have made notable progress in clearing their backlog to $83 million and $92 million, respectively (from $311 million and $196 million in October 2024, respectively). 

     

    Mozambique has climbed up to the top of blocked funds countries, withholding $205 million from airlines, compared with $127 million in October 2024. The Africa and Middle East (AME) region accounts for 85% of total blocked funds, at $1.1 billion as of end April 2025.

     

    The most significant improvement was noted in Bolivia, fully clearing its backlog that stood at $42 million at end October 2024.


    African airlines record 13.6% growth in passengers - DAILY TRUST

    JUNE 03, 2025

    By Abdullateef Aliyu

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for April 2025 global passenger demand with African airlines recording a 13.6% year-on-year increase in demand.

    Capacity was up 8.9% year-on-year. The load factor was 76.3% (+3.1 ppt compared to April 2024).

    According to the data, total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was up 8.0% compared to April 2024.

    Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 6.5% year-on-year. The April load factor was 83.6% (+1.1 ppt compared to April 2024).

    International demand rose 10.8% compared to April 2024. Capacity was up 8.5% year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.1% (+1.7 ppt compared to April 2024), the highest ever for April.

    Similarly, domestic demand increased 3.3% compared to April 2024. Capacity was up 3.1% year-on-year. The load factor was 82.7% (+0.1 ppt compared to April 2024).

    “April was a positive month for travel. Growth strengthened, especially for international demand which saw record load factors for the month. The return of the transatlantic market to growth is particularly encouraging. But there are some signs of fragility of consumer and business confidence with continued weakness in the US domestic market and a sharp fall in North American premium class travel,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

    “As we gather in New Delhi, India for the 81st IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit, it is notable that Indian domestic growth is running at over 10%. The development of India’s air connectivity in recent years has been nothing short of phenomenal, making this year’s gathering a timely and powerful reminder for all on how aviation connectivity drives growth and development,” Walsh said.

    Nearly 100 missing a week after floods tore through Nigerian town - REUTERS

    JUNE 04, 2025

    By

    MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, June 4 (Reuters) - At least 98 people are still missing in addition to 160 confirmed dead a week after floods ripped through a town in central Nigeria, the national emergency agency said on Wednesday, as hopes of finding survivors fade.
    Heavy rainfall unleashed waters that destroyed homes and overwhelmed local drainage systems in Mokwa, about 270 km (168 miles) west of Abuja, in one of the deadliest floods to hit Africa's most populous country.

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    The global steel and construction sectors are racing to decarbonize and use a greener type of furnace.

    Although search and rescue operations continue, damage to roads and bridges was hampering access, said the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), which has enlisted the help of Nigeria Red Cross, police and army.
    "Teams are working to locate missing persons. There is heightened risk of disease outbreaks due to overcrowding and contaminated water sources," NEMA said in a statement.
    Habiba Abdulahi, a 27-year-old resident, said four of her five children had been washed away by the floods, and that like other victims' relatives she was still hoping that the bodies would be found.

    "Just like that, my children were gone. Even now, we haven't found them, but we are still hoping to recover their bodies," she told Reuters by phone.
    The United Nations Children's Fund in Nigeria said it had deployed a team to provide essential healthcare services, including to pregnant women.
    Nigeria frequently experiences floods during the rainy season, which typically begins in April and ends in October.

    Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Aidan Lewis

    Trump reinstates US travel ban, bars citizens of 12 countries - CNBC

    JUNE 05, 2025

    BY Monica Pitrelli

    Customs give jet owners one month to clear duty - PUNCH

    JUNE 06, 2025

    BY  Olasunkanmi Akinlotan


    The Nigeria Customs Service has again bowed to pressure from indebted private jet owners who have failed to pay their duty to the government coffers, as it gave the debtors one more month to clear the debts.

    The service disclosed this on Thursday through its spokesperson, Maiwadah Abdullahi, saying the decision was based on further consultation.

    There are reports that duties are not being paid on the majority of private jets currently in the country, with the NCS seeking to recover unpaid import duties running into several billions of naira.

    Following this development, the service at different times had threatened to clamp down on the defaulting private jet owners.

    In 2024, Customs asked private jet owners to proceed with a verification exercise with the government. The exercise was to determine defaulters in the payment of import duty.

    Recall that on October 14, 2024, The PUNCH reported that the Federal Government, through the NCS, had planned to ground over 60 private jets owned by very important persons in the country over unpaid import duty beginning from that day.

    This was not implemented as the NCS later that same day announced the extension of the verification exercise for private jet owners by one month, from October 14, 2024, to November 14, 2024.

    After multiple attempts to ground the affected private jets failed, the agency finally grounded over 60 private jets over their refusal to pay customs duty, an operation that lasted between Monday and Wednesday.

      Following the enforcement, private jet hangars in Lagos and Abuja airports were reportedly sealed up. However, owners of the aircraft, including bank chiefs and multinational oil companies among other individuals, began to lobby the Presidency to secure the release of their jets.

      Some of the grounded luxury aircraft include Bombardier BD-700 Global 6000, BD-700 Global 6500, and BD-700 Global 7500, among others. Officials of the NCS and those in the aviation sector confirmed this in separate interviews on Wednesday.

      However, on Thursday, Maiwada announced the suspension of the enforcement exercise, adding that the service would again be giving a one-month window to the defaulting private jet owners.

      He said, “We decided to ground aircraft, but we have done some consultations and we have a mutual understanding to suspend the action for another month so that others will come forward to comply. We know they really want to comply, it is just about regularisation and payment of customs duty.”

      Meanwhile, speaking with an industry expert, Capt Muhammed Badamosi, advised the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to remind the owners of the jets of the requirement that qualifies them to stay and operate in Nigeria.

      He said, “However, the NCAA is a different body responsible for compliance with the regulations of the aviation ministry, and the NCS is another body responsible for tax collection. The NCAA can’t control the standard operating procedure for customs services.


      “Since the NCAA is the first respondent to foreign-registered aircraft, they should remind them of other requirements like the Customs duty, which is independent of the regulations of the aviation regulator. If this is done from the beginning of the application process, we will not be where we are on Customs duty today. Let’s learn to do things right the first time.”


      Chad suspends visa issuance to US citizens over travel ban - REUTERS

      JUNE 06, 2025

      N'DJAMENA, June 5 (Reuters) - Chad suspended visa issuance to U.S. citizens on Thursday after its nationals were included in a U.S. travel ban targeting 12 countries, President Idriss Deby said in a Facebook post.

      "I have instructed the government to act in accordance with the principles of reciprocity and suspend the issuance of visas to U.S. citizens," Deby said.

      "Chad has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give but Chad has its dignity and pride," Deby added, making reference to Qatar's gift of a $400 million airplane to U.S. President Donald Trump.

      Chad is among seven African countries on the list of 12 included in the U.S. administration's travel ban.

      Reporting by Mahamat Ramadane Writing by Ayen Deng Bior Editing by Bate Felix

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