Turkish Airlines bags 21 awards, records $12bn aircraft financing deals in 10yrs

Turkish Airlines has crowned its success with 21 international finance awards in the past 10 years for raising $12 billion with three new awards for its successful aircraft financing models.

The three new awards won at Bonds & Loans Awards Night and which brought the number of awards on its financial models to 21 include “Transport Finance Deal of the Year”, “Trade and Export Finance Deal of the Year” and “Structured Finance Deal of the Year”.

Turkish Airlines has been awarded as the runner up in “Trade and Export Finance Deal” category by Bonds & Loans for its brand new B777-300ER aircraft delivered in September 2015.

The total financing builds up to 16,8 billion Japanese Yen and the structure is a combination of an innovative, complex and unique U.S. Ex-Im Guaranteed French Tax Lease.

This structure has been successfully implemented by Turkish Airlines by placing the financing in Japanese Yen rather than placing the predominant currency in aircraft finance which is American Dollar.

The structure was arranged by BNP Paribas, where tax leverage is achieved in this deal together with Ex-Im Bank Guarantee coverage, enabling Turkish Airlines to use the advantages of both export guarantee and tax leverage leading to a low cost of financing for the subject aircraft.

Turkish Airlines was also awarded runner up in the “Structured Finance Deal of the Year” category as well by Bonds & Loans for its brand new 3 A321-200 aircraft delivered between September and November 2015.

 

Turkish Airlines’ primary goal was to obtain a long-term and diversified cheap funding source. Accessing to the Japanese capital markets have added another source together with the banking market and contributed to diversify the geographic exposure.

ICAO certifies 9 NCAA inspectors as instructors

Global civil aviation regulatory body, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)has certified nine Inspectors of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as Instructors.

A statement by the General Manager, Public Relations of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye said all the officers attained the qualification after the successful completion of the ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS Training Instructors Course (TIC).

He explained that the training took place at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, a certified TRAINAIR PLUS Centre from the 13th – 17th February, 2017.

Adurogboye stated that the certification programme is in line with the NCAA’s director general’s four – point agenda to continuously develop its internal capacity.

“This will accelerate the Authority’s human capital development that will continue to strengthen the robust regulation of the Industry.

The ICAO certification has conferred on the instructors the competency to conduct training courses and develop training strategies for course delivery. In addition, they are qualified to deliver Standardised Training Package (STPs) based on TRAINAIR methodology as well as conventional courses.

The Training Instructors Course (TIC) is an ICAO Standardised Training Package (STP) under the TRAINAIR PLUS Programme (TPP) of the ICAO Global Aviation Training (GAT) office in cooperation with the Joint Aviation Authorities Training Organization, JAA TO,” he said.

According to Adurogboye: “These certified instructors now join the four ICAO certified Aviation Security Auditors/Instructors on the staff list of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).This feat by the regulatory authority has received commendation from the global aviation community including United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and ICAO”.

The Certified Instructors are Dr.W.T. Haggai (Head, Aeromedical Standards),Engr.(DR.) I.C. Iteke (National Coordinator, State Safety Programme); Favour Benson – Thomas, Julie Obumselu; Maria Ordor, Ayodele Opeoluwa Obaruvbe; Sunday Ogette Ojoi; Victor Micah U. Okon-Akpan and Collette Nwadiuto Onyeulo-Nwulu.

SAA tasks Nigerian travel trade partners on new marketing strategies

(L-R): Kemi Leke-Bamtefa, National Sales Manager of South African Airways; Mohammed Tanko Kwajaffa, Trade Relations Manager, South African Tourism West Africa; Wonuola Olutunde-Lamidi, Managing Director of Diamonds and Pearls Travels Limited during the forum held at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

By VICTOR NZE

South African Airways (SAA)has charged its travel partners in Nigeria to explore multiple ways of generating revenue to increase their profit base at a forum held at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The aim of the forum was to enlighten and educate the travel partners on how to develop new marketing campaign strategies beyond their core service of ticket sales to its customers.

South African Airways used the opportunity to explain its passenger and cargo services to the travel partners, stressing the need for them to diversify from solely issuing passenger travel tickets to assisting clients with cargo services.

According to Kemi Leke-Bamtefa, National Sales Manager of South African Airways in Nigeria; “We realized that many of our travel partners are concentrating more on issuing travel passenger tickets. In this current tough economic situation in the country, we see the need to enlighten and educate the travel partners to diversify their ways to attract multiple sources of revenue from the travel industry.

This is why we are engaging the travel trade today to enlighten them specifically about South African Airways cargo which is a globally recognized cargo service provider that helps in the movement of goods and products from any corners of Nigeria to any part of the world”.

She disclosed that in order to encourage the travel partners, the airline has introduced a special agency ticket fare, high incentives and commissions for its travel trade partners that will be able to meet South African Airways set sales target in 2017.

The South African national carrier also used the forum to reiterate to the travel partners the multiple route networks of destinations adding that the airline fly beyond Lagos- Johannesburg.

For instance, she said South African Airways easily connects passengers from Lagos to Perth in Australia, Sao Paulo in Brazil, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Washington and New York in the USA as well as other destinations.

It was also highlighted at the event that Mauritius is visa free for Nigerian travelers thus offering a great opportunity for the Nigerian travel trade to market the destination to increase revenue. South African Airways has two flights daily from OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg to Mauritius which the Lagos flight can easily connect.

To encourage the travel trade to sell the Mauritius destination flying South African Airways from Lagos, the National Sales Manager stated that any partner who sells 10 or more travel tickets to the destination from 1st to 30th March will win two tickets to Mauritius.

Another important piece of information is the fact that Nigerian travel partners can encourage their clients to fly South African Airways to any part of the world as there is no need for a transit visa for passengers traveling beyond the South African borders.

SAA Voyager, the reward system for consistently flying South African Airways continues to get more attractive. Since 1994 when the Voyager was launched till date, incredible benefits such as priority boarding, priority waitlist, lounge access, preferential check in and priority seats are a few of the incredible benefits passengers can get while consistently flying South African Airways and becoming a Voyager member.

To express its committed to the Nigerian market, the airline in mid- December 2016, introduced a brand new A330-300 aircraft on the Lagos – Johannesburg route.

Nigerian travelers are currently enjoying 46 premium business class and 203 economy class seating. The business class cabins is in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration, offering increased privacy and providing all business class passengers with direct access to the aisle. The 203 newly designed economy class slim-line seats have extra personal space and generous legroom for traveling comfort.

Obasanjo, Ooni to grace 41st NANTA AGM in Lagos

By VICTOR NZE

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Information and Culture minister, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, and Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, as well as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, are among top dignitaries expected at the 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA).

The event scheduled for March 21 at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, will also be graced by Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (NIHOTOUR), Mrs. Chika Balogun and the Acting Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Mariel Rae-Omoh, among others.

This is also as the travel agencies’ umbrella body has set machinery in motion for the successful actualization of its 41st non elective AGM.

Speaking at the AGM briefing at the NANTA office in Lagos on Friday March 3, president of NANTA, Mr Bankole Bernard, said the AGM with the theme: Tourism in a recessed economy: The way forward is aimed at taping into the low hanging fruits in tourism at this period of recession.

Adding that the AGM has become imperative because NANTA has become a relevant voice in the aviation industry, Bernard observed that the planned closure of Abuja airport is an opportunity in disguise for their members to look into the untapped tourism potential within the zone.

He stated that NANTA has achieved a lot of visibility in his one year as the president of the body including professionalism for the members who are no longer seen as touts, but as professionals.

On the issue of most of the foreign airlines not going to Kaduna because of the closure of Abuja airport, he said some of the airlines may have a rethink when Abuja airport is finally closed.

Also speaking, Frist Deputy President of NANTA and chairperson of the AGM organising committee, Mrs Susan Akporiaye disclosed that the keynote speakers will include the former director general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren ‘who will be speaking from the government aspect having served as the DG of a government agency and know how thing are run in government, while the chief executive officer of Med-View Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole will be speaking from a private sector angle having been running Med-View Airline.’

Mrs. Akporiaye added that all the stakeholders in the aviation industry like NCAA, FAAN, South African Airways, South African Tourism and others are expected to be at the event.

NAIA closure: Bristow opts for Minna airport

Following the planned closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (NAIA), Bristow Helicopters (Nigeria) Limited has concluded arrangements to divert its Lagos-Abuja fixed-wing charter service via the Minna Airport, in Niger State.

Commencing 8 March, Bristow will operate a daily flight from Lagos to Minna utilizing the Embraer 135 aircraft with 37 seating capacity. At Minna Airport, Bristow will operate a helicopter shuttle service to and from the Abuja airport for its customers.

“After several safety and operational reviews, we are pleased with the state of the runway and conditions of the Minna Airport located in Niger State. We will use Minna to continue the provision of seamless charter air travel to Abuja for corporates and business organisations. We want to assure our clients of a continuous impeccable flight service for which the Bristow brand is synonymous.

“From the Minna Airport, Bristow will provide helicopter shuttle services to the VIP wing of the Abuja International Airport. Two Bristow helicopters, a Sikorsky S-92 and S-76, with the capacity to fly 19 and 12 passengers respectively, will provide shuttle services between Minna Airport and Abuja International Airport,“ said Bristow Head of Business Development Mayowa Babatunde.

Air Peace flags off Sokoto operations; as Dana Air diverts to Kaduna

Air Peace

By VICTOR NZE

Dana Air, operator of Imo Air, has announced that it will commence flights to Kaduna on March 8, 2017, following the imminent closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for Rehabilitation. The development comes also as Air Peace opened its Lagos-Abuja-Sokoto operations.

The airline said it will operate four daily flights from Lagos to Kaduna, while there will be one flight each from Uyo and Port Harcourt to Kaduna keeping strictly to its scheduled time of departure.

The Accountable Manager of Dana Air, Mr Obi Mbanuzuo while speaking on the new schedule said ‘we will commence four daily flights from Lagos to Kaduna and one flight each from Uyo and Port Harcourt to Kaduna on 8 March, and we intend keeping to our scheduled time of departure.’’

Commenting further, Obi said ‘with our on-time performance still unrivaled, our desire is to ensure that passengers connecting Abuja from Kaduna meet their appointments and commitments, while those visiting Kaduna can trust us to take them there on-time.’’

Meanwhile, following an official inauguration conducted by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state, domestic carrier Air Peace, has now commenced operations on the Lagos-Abuja-Sokoto route.

The maiden flight arrived at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto 12.43p.m, Wednesday, with a Boeing 737-300 aircraft carrying 136 passengers on board.

Tambuwal who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, remarked: ”We will extend all the needed support and patronage to the airline.”

On his part, Chief of Staff to Tambuwal, Alhaji Mukhtar Magori, said: ”The coming of the airline to Sokoto would boost competition with passengers having value for their money.”

Represented at the occasion by Mr Patrick Achurefe, Manager, Safety and Quality, the Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, said the mission was to make air travel in Nigeria, ‘seamless, safe, pleasurable and affordable,’ adding:  ”We are already replicating our success story on the regional route with the launch of the Lagos-Accra route.  We will soon extend services to other parts of Africa, Middle East, Europe and USA, among others.”

Ailing Lagos Airport gets facelift after Osinbajo’s surprise visit

MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos

By VICTOR NZE

Within one week that the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo paid a surprise visit to the malfuctioning Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, the flagship facility of the country got up and running.

Acting President Professor Yemi Osibanjo, last Thursday, February 23, paid an unscheduled visit  to MMIA in company of Minister of State, Senator Hadi Sirika catching Ministry of Aviation agencies and parastatals and their staff at the airport off guard.

Osinbajo who was in Lagos for other engagements took the time out to move round the airport for an on-the-spot assessment of facilities and work done and those not done.

While at the terminal, the Acting President and the Aviation Ministers were conducted round the travelator and three conveyor belts by the General Manger, (Mechanical), FAAN, Engr. Ephraim Nwodo, who explained the workings of the facilities to his guest ,who was  anxious to see the facilities.

For many weeks now, many travellers have faced untold hardship and discomfort ranging from incessant blackouts, malfunctioning carousel, toilet facilities to frequent breakdown of the air conditioning system, and many more which all fell on deaf ears of the managers of the facility, the biggest on the West African sub-region.

However, all that changed within one week as not only was there a mass sack of six out of initially reported eight directors of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and a further straight order to the top hierarchy to deploy to the troubled spots and fix the problems at the airport.

Though, Ministry of Aviation has since debunked any link between the turnaround in attitude of the NCAA to the Acting President’s visit, it remains to be seen how that visit did not expedite action on repair and fixing of malfunctioning equipment which the MMIA is now witnessing.

A statement made available by Deputy Director Press for the Minister, Mr. James Odaudu dismissed any links while explaining that Osinbajo’s visit was only to assess the state of facilities at the Murtala Muhammed international Airport (MMIA) and to see possible areas of immediate attention.

“It must be made clear that the link between the two events has no basis, as the reorganization in the agencies is part of an ongoing process to reposition them to properly and adequately carry out their regulatory mandates. “

“Recall that this administration, at inception, placed Aviation among top priority areas that would be reorganized and repositioned to contribute more to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product and develop as a sub-regional hub for air transportation. It therefore amounts to an error of judgment to attribute the reorganization efforts to the visit of the Acting President to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. ”

Immediately after Osinbajo’s visit, the Federal Government, Friday, issued a memo sacking all eight directors of the NCAA which was later amended to six with two of those letters reportedly issued in error.

Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi (Director of Consumer Protection), Capt. Ayodele Sasegbon (Director of General Aviation) were the two survivors of the what has come to be known as the ‘aviation tsunami.’

According to the General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, those affected by the sack are now, Alhaji Salawu Ozigi (Director of Finance and Accounts), Barr. Aba Ejembi (Director of Administration), Engr. Benedict Adeyileka (Director of Airworthiness),  Mr. Justus Wariya (Director of Air Transport Regulation), and Mr. Austin-Amadi Ifeanyi (Director of Human Resources), and Captain Sidi (Director of Training).

As if that was not enough fallout of the Osinbajo’s surprise visit, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Engineer Saleh Dunoma, same Friday, read the riot act to engineers of the agency that all equipment at the MMIA must function within the shortest possible time.

He gave this directive to the engineers and the airport manager after inspecting the facilities at the nation’s premier airport including the escalators, conveyor belts and all the toilets the FAAN boss in company of FAAN Director of Commercials and Business Development, Mr. Sadiku Abdulkadir Rafindadi and other top management.

“There are few things we need to fix immediately. I say immediately; immediately means immediately. This is a Presidential directive. We will not wasting time and that is why you see us working on a Saturday. We will still work tomorrow. We just have to come up with strategic implementation plans so that we don’t distrupt operations. This is key to us,” Dunoma told journalists after the tour.

According to Dunoma, “there are some few mechanical equipment like the travelators that needed to be fixed.  Other areas, according to him, are the toilet facilities and some other external facilities that affect what is functional inside.

“We have a contract on the chillers.  Funding has been a problem for us but we are pushing to see that it is fixed”.

For aviation sector observers, the NCAA as well as FAAN cannot wave away insinuations bothering on links between the Acting President’s visit and the sudden attention to issues which travellers, traders, staff of offices at the airport complex had been complaining about for months without solution.

Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos hosts lucky couple to all-expense paid wedding reception, honeymoon

Four Points by Sheraton room

Traditionally, at the Four Points by Sheraton Lagos, the hotel celebrates Valentine’s Day in a special way. This year’s was no exception as it partnered with a Lagos-based radio station Cool FM 96.9 to organize an all-expense paid wedding reception complete with a honeymoon package for a lucky couple.

On the 13th of February, Four Points redeemed its pledge of hosting the lucky couple, Jimi and Abisola to a free wedding reception including Buffet for 100 invited guests. The couple enjoyed the hotel’s beautiful room and unbeatable hospitality treatment while staying in the hotel for two days.

Before then of course, Cool FM’s OAP Dotun and Taymi on the Midday Oasis show aired the joining of Jimi and Abisola in the presence of their parents right inside the Cool FM studio.

The wedding was equally aired on Cool FM’s sister TV station Wazobia TV. Friends and families joined the couple at the Four Points Lagos Jupiter Ball room which had been tastefully decorated in red, white and silver to reflect the Valentine season.

Remarking, General Manager of the Four Points by Sheraton Lagos, Mr. Mark Wozniak said: “We are very delighted to be a part of this love story and magnanimous gesture to offer a lucky couple the wedding of their dreams.

“In addition, the families and friends of the couple will be treated to an array of tasty meals prepared by our experienced chefs”.

Jimi and Abisola were extremely thrilled at the reception as they danced with their friends and families to lots of pleasant music played by the DJ.

Their parents showed appreciation for the great opportunity given to their children to celebrate their union by thanking and praying for the organizers of the occasion.

After the part, the couple retired to a specially prepared room for a honeymoon treat courtesy of the hotel.

Nigeria introduces Visa on Arrival scheme, decentralizes re-issuance of passport

Nigeria has announced new policies geared towards easing visa processes for foreigners as well as fast-tracking the procurement of international passports for Nigerians.

In a statement issued in Lagos, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the measures were part of the action plan for the ease of doing business as well as efforts to boost tourism, within the overall context of the administration’s economic diversification agenda.

”The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has reviewed the requirements for Nigerian visas to make them more customer friendly, and details of this review are available on the NIS official website, http://www.immigration.gov.ng. Types of visas currently reviewed include Visa on Arrival (VoA) processes, Business Visas, Tourist Visas and Transit Visas,” the Minister said.

Alhaji Mohammed explained that Business Visas are available for foreign travellers who wish to travel to Nigeria for meetings, conferences, seminars, contract negotiation, marketing, sales, purchase and distribution of Nigerian goods, trade fairs, job interviews, training of Nigerians, emergency/relief work, crew members, staff of NGOs, staff of NGOs, researchers and musical concerts.

He said tourist visas are also available to foreign travelers who wish to visit Nigeria for the purpose of tourism or to visit family and friends while Nigerina Visa on Arrival is a class of short visit visa issued at the port of entry, and it is available to frequently-travelled high-networth investors and intending visitors who may not be able to obtain visa at the Nigerian Missions/Embassies in their countries of residence due to the absence of a Nigerian mission in those countries or exigencies of urgent business travels.

The minister said other actions that have been taken by the NIS for the ease of doing business and facilitation of travelling for Nigerians and foreigners alike include the harmonization of multiplicity of Airport Arrival and Departure Form/Cards into a single form for all agencies of government to save foreign visitors from the current frustrating practice of filling 3 different forms or more and the decentralization of Immigration services to the State Commands.

”Re-issuance of passports for change of names due to marital reasons or lost cases have been decentralized to all State Commands and Foreign Missions to save passport holders from additional costs and inconvenience of travelling to the Service Headquarters in Abuja, while additional 28 offices have been opened for issuance of Residence Permits in Nigeria, bringing the issuance of Combined Expatriate Residence Permit And Aliens Cards (CERPAC) closer to the doorstep of employers of expatriates at all 36 states and FCT,” he said.

Mohammed said the measures by NIS fit perfectly into the 60-day national action plan for ease of doing business in Nigeria that was approved recently by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), as well as the Administration’s efforts to boost international tourism.

African airlines to buy over 900 planes from Airbus in next 20yrs

Aircraft manufacturer, Airbus SE has said it expects African airlines to buy about 990 new planes over the next two decades to meet increasing demand for passenger and freight services on the continent.

While making up only 3 percent of overall global demand, the planes will more than double the number of such aircraft on the continent, according to Airbus’ vice president for sales in Africa and India, Hadi Akoum.

The company forecasts passenger traffic in Africa increasing by 5.6 percent a year over the next two decades, higher than the 4 percent global average.

“We put Africa’s growth above the rest of the world and we do believe that there is a huge potential,” Akoum said in an interview on Wednesday. “We are working with almost every country and airline that has capacity to operate aircraft beyond 100 seats.”

Underpinned by a growing middle class, the number of air passengers in Africa is forecast to increase by almost two thirds to 303 million by 2035, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The top 10 fastest-growing markets in percentage terms are expected to be African nations including Sierra Leone, Mali, Rwanda, Togo, Uganda and Zambia, each doubling in size every decade, the trade body said on its website.

Of the 990 new Airbus aircraft, 760 will be single-aisle jetliners in the 120-200 seat category, while 230 will be wide-body twin-engine medium- and long-haul airliners, according to the company’s projections. There is also room in the market for 10 larger liners, such as A380s, it said.

The anticipated orders present aircraft maintenance and repair business worth about $76 billion, and a requirement for as many as 21,700 new pilots, according to Airbus.

Some of the planes will replace 226 outdated ones, while the rest of the existing fleet will still be in service by 2035, according to Airbus. There are 605 planes with capacity of more than 120 seats on the continent, manufactured by both Airbus and Boeing Co., it said.

Airbus had 228 planes with 32 African operators by the end of January, including 140 single-aisle A320s and three A350XWB wide-body twin-engine jets.

The company expects to deliver two A330s to South African Airways this year and is in talks with Ethiopia Airlines for more A350-1000s, Akoum said, without giving details as the specifics are still confidential. The airplane maker is also in early-stage discussions with Kenya Airways, the continent’s third-biggest carrier.

Last year, Airbus delivered 688 new aircraft globally valued at $101.3 billion and booked orders for another 949, estimated at $132.7 billion.