Nigeria: Arik Air Makes New Appointment

Arik Air has announced the appointment of Mr. Lanre Bamgbose as its Associate Vice President (AVP), Public & Government Affairs. Until his new assignment, he was the AVP, Business Development & International Affairs.

A pioneer Marketing Manager of Arik Air, Lanre will in his new role serve extensively to engage all sectors of the economy to build partnerships and cooperation for the Airline.

He will also facilitate the use of the airline business to advance the cause of Nigeria's leadership position in African aviation industry, the airline said in a statement.

Lanre is a graduate of Mass Communication, an Associate of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and alumnus of the prestigious Boeing Leadership Academy, Missouri, USA.

Airbus delivers 100th A380

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Airbus together marked a major achievement, with the hand-over of the 100th A380 to MAS at Airbus’ Henri Ziegler Delivery Centre in Toulouse, France. The aircraft is the sixth A380 for MAS.

“We are delighted that our 100th A380 delivery is to Malaysia Airlines as this gives us an early glimpse into the future shape of aviation,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO. “We see a growing demand from dynamic, competitive airlines such as MAS for larger aircraft, with many markets and routes, and in particular in the fast developing Asia-Pacific region, being ideally suited to A380s.”

Now in its sixth year of commercial service, the A380 is flying with nine world class airlines. To date, the worldwide fleet has carried some 36 million passengers in 100,000 flights. Previous generation Very Large Aircraft (VLA 400 seats and above) would have required 140,000 flights. This reduction in flights brings essential relief to airport-congestion and the environment. The corresponding saving of 5.7 million tonnes of CO2, demonstrates the A380 generates more revenue whilst minimising emissions and noise.

The A380 fleet performs over 140 flights per day and carries over one and a half million people each month. Passengers can hop on board one of the A380s, which are either taking off or landing every six minutes at one of the 32 international airports where it operates to date. On top of these, more than 50 other airports are getting prepared to accommodate the A380 and answer the airlines’ need for more A380 destinations.

Over the next 20 years, more than 1,700 VLA such as the A380 will have been delivered. Asia Pacific leads demand (45 percent) for these high capacity aircraft, followed by the Middle East (23 percent) and Europe (19 percent).

Typically seating 525 passengers in three classes, the aircraft is capable of flying 8,500 nautical miles or 15,700 kilometres non-stop, carrying more people at lower cost and with less impact on the environment. The spacious, quiet cabin and smooth ride have made the A380 a firm favourite with passengers, resulting in higher load factors wherever it flies.

Since 2006 the A380 has registered repeat orders by satisfied customers every year, bringing the total order book to date to 262 from 20 customers.

Etihad Airways trumpets success of equity alliance strategy

Etihad Airways today heralded a successful first year of its equity alliance strategy, after a financial reporting season which saw each of the five airlines within the alliance – airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia, Aer Lingus and Etihad Airways – announce profitable performance.

The airlines’ individual and collective results were boosted by a number of measures, including growing codeshare traffic between their networks, successful joint sales and marketing efforts, and a range of increasing business and cost synergies.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ president, welcomed the success of the airlines.

He said: “Last year was a year in which the global economy remained very tough and in which airline industry profits as a whole shrank, for the second successive year.

“Yet each of the airlines in our equity alliance showed strong financial performance with each reporting a profit.

“That broadcasts two messages, loud and clear. 

“First, we have invested in businesses and in management teams which have the vision and focus to outperform the wider industry.

“Second, the ‘win-win’ of more passengers and shared cost synergies that our alliance brings to each member is having a positive effect on performance.”

The airlines’ results included:

• Etihad Airways reported a second year of earnings before interest and tax (US$170 million) and net profit (US$42 million), in only its ninth year of operation. 
• airberlin, in which it holds a 29.21 per cent equity stake, reported operating profit of EUR70.2 million in 2012, a turnaround of EUR317.20 million on the previous year. The airline’s net income of EUR7 million marked a return to bottom line profitability for the first time since 2007.
• Air Seychelles, in which Etihad holds a 40 per cent stake and has been awarded a five-year management contract, reported 2012 net profit of US$1 million, its first profitable year since 2007.
• Virgin Australia, in which Etihad holds a nine per cent stake, reported statutory profit after tax of AUD$23 million for the six months to December 31st 2012 (the airline’s financial year is to June 30th).
• Aer Lingus, in which Etihad holds a 2.987 per cent stake, reported operating profit up 40.7 per cent to EUR69.1 million, with net profit of EUR 40.6.

Etihad Airways’ equity alliance model has seen increasing cooperation with each of its equity investment airlines. 

It has codeshare relationships in place with each of the other four airlines, adding to its 38 other codeshares around the world, which together delivered more than 1.2 million passengers onto the virtual network.

airberlin, Virgin Australia and Air Seychelles have also already launched new services to Abu Dhabi from their respective markets.

In 2012, Etihad Airways and its equity partners carried 76 per cent of all passengers at Abu Dhabi airport.

With the addition of the airline’s remaining codeshare partners, the combined passenger number amounted to 83 per cent.

Etihad Airways also initiated a range of business and cost synergy programs, covering fleet and engine acquisition, maintenance, recruitment and training, and joint marketing. 

It is working with its equity alliance partners to develop ‘centres of excellence’ in which operational and commercial expertise is pooled to deliver best practice across the group.

Hogan added: “Because we’ve got ‘skin in the game’, we go much, much further than the legacy alliances. 

“Our new model gives benefits on both sides of the equation – revenue and costs.”

Dreamliner back in the air within ‘weeks’

Boeing has a comprehensive set of improvements that will add several layers of additional safety features to the lithium-ion batteries on 787 commercial jetliners are in production and could be ready for initial installation within the next few weeks.
New enclosures for 787 batteries also are being built and will be installed in airplanes in the weeks ahead.

These improvements, which continue to undergo extensive certification testing, will allow operators to resume commercial flights with their 787s as soon as testing is complete and the US Federal Aviation Administration and other international regulators grant their final approval.

The improvements include enhanced production and operating processes, improved battery design features and a new battery enclosure.

“As soon as our testing is complete and we obtain regulatory approvals, we will be positioned to help our customers implement these changes and begin the process of getting their 787s back in the air,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president Ray Conner.

“Passengers can be assured that we have completed a thorough review of the battery system and made numerous improvements that we believe will make it a safer, more reliable battery system.”

Battery system changes include changes to the battery itself, the battery charging unit and the battery installation.

Earlier this week the FAA approved Boeing’s certification plan, which lays out the discrete testing to be done to demonstrate that the battery improvements address the conditions laid out in the Airworthiness Directive that has suspended 787 commercial operations.

“We are following all of the necessary protocols to get our new design fully approved and properly installed so that we can help our customers start flying as soon as possible.

“We are simultaneously moving out on an effort to resume deliveries but completing our certification work and getting the delivered fleet flying again is our first priority,” said Conner.

“Our customers and their passengers have been incredibly patient as we have worked through this process and we thank them very sincerely for their continued support and confidence in the 787.

“The more-electric architecture of the 787 brings real value not just to the airlines but to our industry. “By reducing fuel use, we are reducing our environmental footprint.

“This battery technology is an important part of the more-electric architecture, which is helping us to cut fuel use by more than ten billion gallons of fuel over the life of this program.”

DG NCAA, Harold Demuren Fired

Courtesy: thewillnigeria.com

The Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren has been fired from his top job by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

A statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation said his sack takes effect from March 12, 2013.

“Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved the removal of Dr. Harold Olusegun Demuren from Office as the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) with effect from 12th March 2013. 


“This is consequent to a careful consideration of Dr. Demuren’s unsatisfactory response to the numerous concerns of stakeholders in the Aviation Sector. Mr. President wishes him well in his future endeavours, the Monday night (local time) statement said.

Nigeria’s main airport in Lagos has suffered series of embarrassing power cuts lately and it is believed Demuren may have been removed partly because of this.
Demuren, a foreign trained aviation aeronautics engineer, and the Senate have been engaged in a long drawn battle following the Dana Airlines plane crash on June 03, 2012, that killed over 140 passengers including the entire crew.

The Senate Committee on Aviation led by Senator Hope Uzodinma had blamed the crash on the NCAA’s poor safety oversight even though preliminary investigations conducted by the Accident Investigations Bureau (AIB) did not find the agency guilty of any wrongdoing.

Demuren completed his first tenure as head of the NCAA in January, and has been credited with repositioning Nigeria’s troubled aviation sector, which earned the country the United States highest Category One aviation safety status. 

Qatar Airways in FC Barcelona's first shirt sponsor deal

Qatar Airways has confirmed it will enter into a strategic partnership with football giants FC Barcelona which will see the airline’s brand name appear on first team shirts from the start of the 2013/14 season.

The three-year agreement with the runaway Spanish league leaders and former winners of the Champions League will be effective from July 1st 2013.

Qatar Airways will become the club’s Global Main Partner, signalling the first time the airline has engaged in a sponsorship with a major soccer club.

Qatar Airways inks deal with FC Barcelona

Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker said it will be a unique partnership, describing the alignment with Barca as a “fitting match for both organisations, which will elevate the brands to a new platform on the global stage and sharing the same values – passionate about being the best at what we do in our respective fields”.

Al Baker was joined by FC Barcelona president Sandro Rosell to announce the upcoming partnership at a joint press conference held at the club’s home stadium, Camp Nou.

“FC Barcelona is a club that exemplifies passion, pride, heritage and culture at its core. These are values we share, admire and are fundamental to Qatar Airways,” said Al Baker.

“Qatar Airways is entering a new chapter in our short history. We look forward to working with, and engaging with, the club, the fans and the people of Barcelona to help make a real difference through this exciting new partnership.

“It is great pride for my airline and my country to see Qatar Airways feature on FC Barcelona’s first-team shirts from next season.”

FC Barcelona, the reigning Copa del Rey – Spanish Cup – champions, is a club steeped in history dating back more than 100 years.

Owned by the fans and by the people of Catalonia, the club is one of the richest in the world, home to world-class players, including the world’s best player Lionel Messi.

Club president Sandro Rosell said: “From July, we will be able to work with global company Qatar Airways, with whom we share many things such as the search for excellence.

“This sponsorship deal will bring great advantages, not just for the Club, but also for our city and our country.”

As part of the agreement with Qatar Airways, the airline’s name will adorn, from the start of the 2013/14 season, Barca first-team shirts at La Liga matches across Spain, Champions League matches across Europe, as well as friendly matches, including FC Barcelona’s pre-season tours.

British Airways extends in-flight entertainment

British Airways is rolling out the option to watch TV and movies from the moment customers board their flights to the time they arrive at their destination on even more long-haul services.

Flights to Tel Aviv, Cairo, Beirut, Amman, Almaty and Baku are the latest to benefit from the airline’s extended in-flight entertainment programme.

Last year, British Airways was the first UK airline to start showing the latest movies and TV shows, on long-haul fights to customers from the second they reached their seat to the moment they arrived at their destination.

On a five-hour flight to Cairo or Tel Aviv customers are able to enjoy up to an hour extra in-flight entertainment.

Frank van der Post, British Airways’ director of brands and customer experience, said: “We know how much our customers enjoy our carefully selected in-flight entertainment so we’re delighted that packing in more programmes and films will be possible for even more of our customers.

“We’re always looking to innovate with new products and services to make travelling with British Airways even more enjoyable and relaxing.”

British Airways’ seven-strong fleet of long-haul Airbus A321s are configured with two cabins, so customers can watch on the airline’s latest Thales in-flight entertainment system on 15.5 inch wide screens travelling in Club World and 8.9 inch wide screens travelling in World Traveller.

The extension to in-flight entertainment is part of a £5 billion investment programme by British Airways, which includes new aircraft, refurbished cabins and better lounges.

In line with other UK carriers, British Airways previously started its in-flight entertainment system once the aircraft has taken off and following various announcements and turns it off 15-20 minutes before the aircraft lands.

South African Airways wins on-time performance service award

South African Airways (SAA) has been awarded the On Time Performance Service Award for 91.17% on time performance, the highest among major airlines in the Middle East and Africa.

The award was announced by FlightStats. SAA outperformed other airlines in the region that operate at least 30,000 scheduled flights annually. The flight status coverage threshold was set at 80%. The other four finalists included Etihad, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways and Saudi Arabian Airlines.

The On Time Performance Service (OTPS) Awards program recognises airlines around the world that achieve sustained operational excellence. Airlines are recognised for delivering the highest percentage of flights to their arrival gates within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time.

Zuks Ramasia, General Manager of Operations at SAA said: “SAA is absolutely thrilled to win this prominent award as On Time Performance is a critical factor considered by customers when selecting which airline to fly. Winning this award also highlights our employees’ commitment to ensuring a seamless travel experience to our valued customers.”

SAA is based in the South African city of Johannesburg and is a member of the Star Alliance.