Travel News
Airlines struggle as losses hit N150bn in two months - PUNCH
By Princess Etuk
Airline Operators of Nigeria have raised alarm over losing N150bn within two months, even as ground handling companies threaten further action over about N9bn in outstanding debts.
A member of the Board of Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, Roland Iyayi, said airlines had lost over N150bn in just two months, stressing that operators were nearing breaking point.
“Airlines have bled over N150bn in two months. Where is the money going to come from? It’s gotten to a point where nobody can threaten anybody any longer,” he said.
Iyayi warned that the survival of ground handling companies depends largely on the existence of airlines, adding that the current standoff could have dire consequences.
He said, “If airlines don’t exist, they don’t have a business. Nobody cares about the airlines; everybody wants to collect money. We’ve made up our minds now that whatever anybody wants to do, they can continue, but I can guarantee you that at the end of the day, everybody will come to their knees. You can’t force anybody to come up with what they don’t have.
So that’s where we are right now.”
He further cautioned that any disruption to airline operations would ultimately hurt all stakeholders in the sector. He added, “They threaten, the same way a few marketers are saying cash and carry. So let’s see what happens by the time airlines stop flying, whether they have any business.
“There’s no way airlines can do anything regarding any debt, simply because it has become very difficult to survive. Airlines are struggling to survive. So anybody threatening airlines now to say, ‘Oh, if you don’t pay up, we’ll cut services,’ without the airlines, you don’t have any business. So if you make it seem like you are doing the airlines a favour, no, it’s the other way around. Without the airlines, you can’t be where you are.
“What are we meeting for? To make promises we can’t keep? If anything at all, the airlines have to survive first before the ground handling companies can even have any future as a business,” he added.
However, the Chairman of the Aviation Ground Handling Association of Nigeria, Olaniyi Adigun, said the association was considering its next line of action in line with labour laws.
“What we intend to do is to come out with a press conference, and according to Nigerian law, we have our own strategy, which we are meeting together, and we are going to state our next move. Although some of them (airlines) have started, the majority have not. But that does not call off the strike,” he said.
Adigun added that the association might escalate its action if airlines fail to meet its demands within the stipulated timeframe.
“However, you know in the labour law, when you give a seven-day notice, and if you don’t meet up, you can give a three-day notice. So that’s the labour law; we are trying to look at that.
“But we have our minds set. We are just following the law. So after the expiration of seven days, if we don’t hear from them, we have our own strategy. We will be having a meeting on Thursday. So let’s wait for the outcome of the meeting,” he said.
Meanwhile, another member of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, urged caution, warning that the timing of the dispute could worsen the country’s fragile economic situation.
“This is not even the right time for anybody to be attacking the airlines or for the people that are attacking each other, because this is a difficult time for them. So I don’t think this is the right time to do that. It’s a very sensitive period,” the source said.
The source warned that the collapse of airlines would trigger widespread consequences across the country. “As a nation, we cannot afford for our airlines to go down now because it’s going to create a lot of problems. There are a lot of problems we cannot afford. We’re in a very, very difficult position as a nation.
“If airlines go under, there will be an uproar in this country. So we have to be very careful. So I think the ground handlers will need to be patient and find a way to meet with the airlines, get into a dialogue because dialogue is the only way forward,” the source added.
The development follows an earlier report by The PUNCH that a fresh crisis was brewing in the aviation sector after ground handling companies threatened to suspend services over more than N9bn owed by domestic airlines, raising fears of widespread flight disruptions across the country.
The ground handlers, under the umbrella of the Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria, had issued a seven-day ultimatum to airline operators, warning that failure to settle the outstanding debts could force them to withdraw critical services essential to flight operations.
The association noted that the lingering indebtedness had placed significant financial strain on its members and affected their operational capacity, adding that repeated efforts to recover the funds had yielded little progress, with airlines’ payment commitments largely unmet.
UK airlines to group passengers from different flights on same day to save on jet fuel - EURONEWS
BY Dianne Apen-Sadler
The UK government is set to relax certain rules for airlines in a bid to protect summer holidays from disruption amid the fuel crisis.
While carriers in the country aren’t currently facing supply issues, the Department of Transport has said it hopes these changes will allow airlines to “plan realistically” and “lock in schedules earlier” so as to stop short-notice changes later down the line.
Airlines that operate multiple flights to the same destination on the same day will be able to consolidate schedules to reduce wasted fuel from flying planes which have not sold a significant proportion of tickets.
The UK government has also said that airlines will be able to hand back some of the ‘slots’ they are given to take off or land at airports without losing them.
Under current rules, carriers must use at least 80% of their allocated slots during a season to prevent them from being reassigned to other airlines. The practice hit the headlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, with thousands of ‘ghost flights’ operated.
“Since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the government has been monitoring jet fuel supplies daily and working with airlines, airports and fuel suppliers to stay ahead of any problems,” Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said.
“There are no immediate supply issues, but we’re preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer.
“This legislation will give airlines the tools to adjust flights in good time if they need to, which helps protect passengers and businesses. We will do everything we can to insulate our country from the impact of the situation in the Middle East.”
Not everybody is happy about the proposed changes.
“Millions of Britons will have already booked their flights for this summer, often paying over the odds for flights at peak times,” Rory Boland, editor of consumer rights publication Which? Travel, said in a statement.
“Existing rules already allow airlines to move customers to new flights so long as they give them more than 14 days' notice and offer the choice between a new flight or a refund. It's only for cancellations within 14 days that compensation is payable, rightly.
“It's not fair for the rules to now be bent in favour of airlines and potentially leave passengers holding the bill. Many passengers will understand that disruptions can occur and may be happy to travel a few hours or a day later, but for those on short trips or connecting flights it could mean the trip is no longer worthwhile.
"Before any changes are made, passengers need cast-iron assurances that their rights will not be weakened and that airlines cannot use reform as cover to shift the cost of disruption onto travellers."
The UK has increased domestic jet fuel production in response to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Israel attack on Iran. Jet fuel supply imports come to the UK from a number of countries not affected by the crisis, including the US.
Your rights on flights
For passengers in the UK, if your flight is cancelled by the airline you have the right to choose between a refund and being re-routed.
If your flight is delayed significantly – more than two hours on short-haul, three hours on medium-haul and four hours on long-haul – you are entitled to food and drink vouchers as well as overnight accommodation where necessary.
Rights are similar for EU countries, with passengers offered either a refund, a re-route to your destination at the earliest opportunity, or re-rerouting at a later date at your convenience, if your flight is cancelled.
You can find out more information about your rights within the EU on the Your Europe website.
UK airlines given green light to cancel or consolidate flights to conserve jet fuel - THE GUARDIAN UK
BY Helena Horton
UK airlines will be able to cancel or consolidate flights this summer to conserve jet fuel as the war in the Middle East continues to disrupt supplies.
The measures are being taken to avoid major disruption as Britons jet off on their summer holidays. Airlines are looking carefully at their timetables to see which flights can be cancelled in advance and cause the least delays.
New legislation would allow for actions such as consolidating schedules on routes where there are multiple flights to the same place on the same day, which could be put in place to stop last-minute cancellations, the government announced on Sunday.
The changes will allow airlines to give back a limited proportion of their allocated takeoff and landing slots without losing the right to operate them the following season. Usually, cancelling these puts airlines at risk of losing the slots, meaning sometimes they run half-empty planes in order to keep the right to use them.
Airlines will be cancelling flights well in advance if there is a jet fuel shortage, meaning passengers can be moved on to similar services.
If flights have not sold a significant proportion of tickets, these may also be cancelled in order to prevent wasting fuel from running near-empty planes, say ministers. Under the plans, flights will have to be cancelled at least two weeks in advance.
Advertisement
Rob Bishton, the chief executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “Relaxing the rules around slots at airports will allow airlines more flexibility and so we expect them to give passengers as much notice as possible of cancellations during this period.”
The plans were hatched at a meeting last Thursday between the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, and representatives from Heathrow and Gatwick airports, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and easyJet.
The strait of Hormuz, a key artery for oil and gas, has been closed in effect since the beginning of March, causing an energy crisis in many countries and leading European states to fear jet fuel shortages. According to some calculations, there are just a few weeks of jet fuel supplies left in Europe. The UK imports about 65% of the jet fuel it uses, much of which comes from the Middle East.
Alexander said: “There are no immediate supply issues, but we’re preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer.
“This legislation will give airlines the tools to adjust flights in good time if they need to, which helps protect passengers and businesses. We will do everything we can to insulate our country from the impact of the situation in the Middle East.”
British Airways business class passengers face higher fares - THE TELEGRAPH
BY Christopher Jasper
British Airways’ business class customers face higher fares as the airline seeks to offset a massive increase in its fuel bill sparked by the Iran war.
BA’s parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG), said it will attempt to pass on around 60pc of the €2bn (£1.7bn) in extra fuel costs expected this year as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Luis Gallego, IAG’s chief executive, said he was particularly confident in the ability of passengers on premium flights – such as British Airways’ services to the US – to soak up fare rises. The comments suggest business class passengers will be targeted for price rises.
Virgin Atlantic added a £360 fuel surcharge to its most expensive fares last month.
Even after lifting fares, IAG faces an €800m hit from fuel costs that it will not be able to pass on. As a result, the airline group expects annual profits to tumble below previous forecasts.
IAG warned of a deepening crisis if the strait, which normally accounts for a fifth of all oil and gas shipments, remains blocked by fighting, with “potential for supplies of jet fuel to be restricted on a global basis”.
The International Air Transport Association said it was also becoming increasingly concerned and urged European authorities to allow the use of US-grade jet fuel to ease supply pressure.
Stuart Fox, the trade body’s director for flight and technical operations, said: “If the war continues, it won’t be long before we see fuel shortfalls in parts of the world. European fuel supply could come under pressure.”
Aviation safety agency Easa said it would have no concerns about the use of US Jet A fuel, which freezes at higher temperatures than the Jet A-1 traditionally used in Europe.
IAG said it was confident in summer fuel supplies in its main markets and at hubs such as Heathrow. However, there are growing concerns across the industry about the ability of aircraft to refill their tanks following flights to cities in Asia and Africa that are reliant on fuel shipped from the Gulf.
BA rival Lufthansa revealed this week that one of its South African services had to divert to Namibia to take on fuel after Cape Town airport ran out of kerosene.
Jets operated by BA and Spanish sister airline Iberia are meanwhile taking on more fuel in North and South America, where supplies remain plentiful and prices lower, while Mr Gallego said IAG had also built up its own reserves.
He said: “We have a problem in the Strait of Hormuz, but you can have the supply to replace it. We have, for example, regular supplies now from the US.
“In the last 10 years, we have been investing to have a backup plan in a situation like this. We have our own supply of fuel, our own inventory in the UK and Ireland for example, and this is going to help in case it’s needed.”
That includes shipments to a dedicated BA depot on the Isle of Grain in the Thames Estuary, from where two trains a day carry fuel directly to Heathrow. Fuel can also be sent from the UK to Spain and Ireland, where IAG owns Aer Lingus, as required.
IAG said its overall fuel bill for the year would be about €9bn, up from earlier guidance of €7bn before the closure of the key Gulf waterway.
The comments came as oil prices climbed back above $100 on Friday after Donald Trump confirmed the US had fired on several Iranian facilities in response to attacks on US Navy ships.
Jet fuel prices have roughly doubled since the US began strikes on Iran in February, which prompted Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz to tanker traffic. Average global jet fuel prices were around $181 per barrel this week, according to IATA data.
BA has already been forced to cancel many of its popular routes to the Middle East, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as the United Arab Emirates and its Gulf neighbours come under missile and drone attack from Tehran.
IAG said it expected total passenger capacity to be lower than previously forecast. The airline group has put on alternative flights to destinations in India and Africa.
Sean Doyle, the chief executive of BA, said a further shake-up was likely once the Government finalised plans to allow airlines to mothball some airport slots to conserve fuel without losing future rights over them.
He said: “A chunk of what we’re hoping to unlock with the slot consultation is the ability to redeploy capacity.
“Right now we’re not able to fully effectively redeploy capacity out of markets where people aren’t travelling to, such as the Middle East, into markets where people want to travel to.”
Airline bosses have warned that some carriers could go bankrupt later this year if they are forced to cancel flights because of fuel challenges or if holidaymakers abandon their plans.
Michael O’Leary, the boss of Ryanair, warned last month that he was expecting to see “two or three European airlines in October or November” going bankrupt if jet fuel prices do not fall.
Jet2, Britain’s biggest tour operator, said fears around flight cancellations had triggered a surge in bookings for package holidays, which offer greater consumer protection. It said packages now account for 51pc of holidays, up five percentage points since the start of the war.
Atlanta-Lagos Delta flight makes air return - PUNCH
Passengers aboard a Delta Air Lines flight from the United States to Nigeria experienced an unexpected disruption after the Lagos-bound aircraft was forced to return to its departure airport about eight hours after take-off.
The affected flight, DL54, on Saturday departed the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the United States en route to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport before the crew initiated an unexpected air return over the Atlantic Ocean.
Although the airline confirmed the incident, it stayed silent on the exact cause. After about 48 hours, it described the development as an “operational issue.”
The direct Atlanta-Lagos route typically lasts about 11 hours and 15 minutes.
Flight tracking information showed that the Airbus A330-200 aircraft departed Atlanta at approximately 5:42 p.m. EDT and continued normally for several hours before the pilots made the decision to head back to base.
The aircraft eventually landed safely in Atlanta in the early hours of Sunday after spending about seven hours and 48 minutes while heading to Lagos.
For many passengers, the return meant a frustrating interruption to a journey that was already well advanced, with some reportedly preparing for arrival in Lagos before the sudden diversion announcement.
The incident also disrupted travel plans on both ends of the route.
The aircraft, an Airbus A330-200 with registration number N854NW, remained grounded in Atlanta for further checks and inspection.
One of the affected passengers, who gave his name simply as Adesola, said it was a very pathetic experience. “Co-passengers were extremely angry, but despite knowing that the decision must have been for safety reasons, I couldn’t help my emotions. I burst into tears, but very quickly I also wiped my face before people would start laughing at me. I was honestly pained.”
When contacted, TopCom, the media consultancy firm representing Delta Air Lines in Nigeria, confirmed the incident and added that alternative arrangement have been made for the affected passengers.
In a statement, Delta said, “We apologise for delaying and inconveniencing our customers on Delta Flight 54 from Atlanta to Lagos, Nigeria. The flight returned to Atlanta after an operational issue was discovered on board. The flight landed uneventfully, and customers were accommodated on alternate flights departing from the US on Sunday.
“Delta teams also actively assisted the affected customers on DL55 from Lagos to Atlanta and re-accommodated them on the next available flight as quickly as possible.”
US Waives $15,000 Visa Deposit For Foreign Fans With World Cup Tickets - ARISENEWS
The US government has exempted football fans from 50 countries from a $15,000 visa deposit requirement if they are travelling to the country for the World Cup with valid match tickets.
The policy, introduced under President Donald Trump’s administration last year, was aimed at reducing visa overstays. Under the rule, travellers from affected countries were required to pay a refundable bond before entering the US.
Five of the affected countries; Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico from 11 June.
Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Mora Namdar, confirmed the exemption in a statement to the BBC.
“We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets,” Namdar said.
Players and coaches travelling for the tournament had already been exempt from the requirement, but ordinary fans with confirmed tickets were only included on Wednesday.
The 12-month pilot programme, launched last August, formed part of the administration’s broader immigration crackdown. According to the State Department, it was designed to address visa overstays and cases “where screening and vetting information is considered deficient”.
The visa bond would have been refunded after visitors completed their stay in the US.
World football governing body FIFA welcomed the announcement, describing it as part of ongoing cooperation with the White House.
In a statement, FIFA said the decision demonstrates the ongoing collaboration with the White House “to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event”.
“We are grateful to the Administration for the ongoing partnership.”
Despite the exemption for football fans, travellers from Iran and Haiti remain barred from entering the US, although players and coaches from those countries are still exempt for World Cup-related travel.
Travellers from Ivory Coast and Senegal also face partial restrictions under an expanded version of the travel ban.
The US government had earlier announced that tourists from dozens of countries could be asked to provide five years of social media history as part of visa applications, a policy that may affect World Cup visitors.
Rights groups have warned that the measures could expose travellers to denied entry, arrests, expanded restrictions, racial profiling and increased surveillance.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
Ghana to evacuate 300 citizens from South Africa after xenophobic attacks - REUTERS
ACCRA (Reuters) – Ghana will evacuate 300 citizens from South Africa following a wave of xenophobic attacks targeting migrants from other sub-Saharan African countries, a post by the foreign minister said on X.
Foreign minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the citizens had registered for assistance with the Ghana High Commission.
Some South Africans are protesting against illegal immigration from other sub-Saharan African countries.
Advertisement
South African authorities have said illegal immigration is a problem while condemning the violence and vowing in April to crack down on xenophobic attacks.
Ghana has protested over videos of violent incidents circulating on social media and promised to look after its citizens at home and abroad.
Other African countries including Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe have warned their citizens in South Africa to exercise caution and stay indoors amid attacks targeting foreigners.
Nigeria has said at least 130 citizens have asked to be flown home.
Nigeria announces 30-day visa-free entry for Rwandan citizens - THE CABLE
Nigeria has reciprocated Rwanda’s 30-day visa free entry, expanding travel access between both nations.
In a statement on Friday, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) said it has completed all arrangements for the implementation following President Bola Tinubu’s directive.
Tinubu is in Kigali, Rwanda, for the Africa CEO forum, which began on Thursday.
Before the event kicked off, the president met Paul Kagame, his Rwandan counterpart, for talks aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and Rwanda.
Tinubu had considered reciprocating Rwanda’s 30-day visa-free status in the spirit of pan-Africanism.
Rwanda is one of a few African states that grant citizens of African Union (AU) member countries a 30-day visa-free stay.
Under the new bilateral agreement, Rwandan nationals may enter Nigeria without a visa for a period not exceeding 30 days for lawful purposes, including tourism, business, and official engagements.
However, the NIS said individuals seeking to remain in Nigeria beyond the approved 30-day period would be required to obtain the appropriate visa through a Nigerian embassy or high commission abroad, or the Nigeria e-visa.
The 30-day visa free entry applies to all international entry points, including airports, land borders, and seaports.
The NIS said the initiative reflects the strong diplomatic and bilateral relations between Nigeria and Rwanda, while promoting intra-African mobility, tourism, and economic cooperation in line with continental aspirations.
Trump says IS second in command killed in Nigeria - DW
BY Timothy Jones, Wesley Dockery (AFP, Reuters)
US President Donald Trump has said that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was killed in Nigeria during a joint mission involving US and Nigerian forces.
In a post on his Truth Social platform early Saturday, Trump said al-Minuki was the second in command of the "Islamic State" (IS) terror organization globally.
"He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans," Trump said.
The US president said al-Minuki's removal leaves IS' global operation "greatly diminished."
Trump also thanked the government of Nigeria for its partnership in the mission to kill al-Minuki.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the joint US-Nigerian operation was a "significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism."
In a post on X, Tinubu added that the strike on al-Minuki's compound in the Lake Chad Basin had also killed "several" of his lieutenants.
Frequent violence by militant groups in Nigeria
Nigeria recently came under criticism from Trump, who claimed that Christians there were being persecuted by Islamist militants and that the government was not doing enough to stop the violence, which Nigerian authorities have denied.
The US carried out strikes on what it alleged were Islamist bases in northwestern Nigeria on December 25 last year in the wake of the US president's allegations.
Nigeria has seen considerable violence from a range of armed militant groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province.
Edited by: Sean Sinico and Karl Sexton
MARKET NEWS
No Record Found
