Rawani:
First of all, replace the traffic warden Osita with a technocrat from the aviation industry who can outline current aviation best practices and adapt it to the peculiarities of Nigeria, to give a clearer insight which will guide the determination of the most efficient and effective model for our national carrier. You can't plant beans and expect apples.

IGBOSON1:


^^^Right from the time of Nigeria Airways, the aviation sector has seen many so called 'technocrats from the aviation industry', yet this didn't prevent the airline from going under! The man you derisively call a traffic warden acquitted himself creditably as head of FRSC; so much so that countries like Ghana and Sierra Leone have asked for Nigerias' assistance in setting up a similar road/traffic management system in their respective countries! Also, a Nigerian issued drivers license is now acceptable in a number of European countries, and this is partly thanks to the the 'traffic wardens' leadership credentials!

IGBOSON1:


^^^Right from the time of Nigeria Airways, the aviation sector has seen many so called 'technocrats from the aviation industry', yet this didn't prevent the airline from going under! The man you derisively call a traffic warden acquitted himself creditably as head of FRSC; so much so that countries like Ghana and Sierra Leone have asked for Nigerias' assistance in setting up a similar road/traffic management system in their respective countries! Also, a Nigerian issued drivers license is now acceptable in a number of European countries, and this is partly thanks to the the 'traffic wardens' leadership credentials!

CFCfan:
^^
I kinda agree with you. I'd prefer the ownership structure of the national carrier to be as follows:

FG - 20%

Nigerian citizens and institutions - 50%

Foreign citizens and institutions - 30%

A start-up capital of around $2bn would put the airline on a solid financial footing. The airline's primary hubs would be Lagos and Abuja; whilst its secondary hubs would be Port Harcourt, Enugu and Uyo.

As for the its international routes, I will suggest flights to these cities:

North America - Vancouver (Canada), Houston, San Francisco, *Los Angeles (United States).

South America - São Paulo (Brazil)

Europe - London, Paris, Amsterdam, Milan, Brussels, Barcelona

Africa - Johannesburg, Accra, Abidjan, Dakar, Yaounde, Nairobi, Casablanca.

Asia - Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo, Mumbai, Abu Dhabi.

*Seasonal flights to Los Angeles, and Jamaica should also be explored.

Rawani:


Going by this logic, a driver that has distinguished himself on the road can be handed a 747, as he will transfer his excellent credentials to the cockpit. After all he 'acquitted himself creditably' *smh*

IGBOSON1:


^^^You're not making sense!......Compare like-for-like!!

There's the management/administrative part of the company on the one hand; and on the other, there's the technical/practical part where targeted/specialized training and know-how is required! A seasoned administrator can manage a hospital well without being a medical doctor; likewise, someone who has 'distinguished himself' in management/administration could equally manage an airline!

ichidodo:
Incentives should be lucrative enough to get seasoned Air-line companies interested therefore we propose ownership stocks split equally at both ends with each party reserving the interest of diluting stocks via IPOs.This venture will not only be a symbol of national pride but a cash cow to all parties involved including the Treasury....

CFCfan:

The issue with your idea is that the national carrier may find it difficult to fly to the US.

I recall the wrangling that Virgin Nigeria had to go thru in order for the US DOT to grant them approval to ply American routes. The US DOT kept insisting that VN was not truly a Nigerian airline because Branson, via Virgin Atlantic, held 49% ownership of the carrier.
The Americans essentially thought that VA was seeking to increase its frequency to US routes through the backdoor.

I think it was only Aso Rock intervention that finally paved the way for VN to start flying into the US.

That's why I think foreign shares should be limited to 30%, or a max of 40%.

ichidodo:
Virgin Atlantic via its owner have always been regarded as a 'bucanneering' prospect as far as American bilateral air-line interests are concerned therefore we suppose this snag you opined must be peculiar to Richard Branson's blond hair, we can also suppose government take on board a less bilateral-agreement toxic company maybe Lufthernsa?,we can be sure 50%? should get this efficient german air-liner on-stream...The key word here is stability,having a third-party stock option will leave for unscrupulous hedgefunds,Politicians,Money-bags to corner much of that equity which might not be in the venture's interest look at what happened to Econet..till today that company is still reeling from not wholly owning its stock...as its nigerian moneybag stock holders kept on fustrating every technical partner after another from taking its telephony to the next level....Air-line biz is much more volatile than GSM therefore a stable two-way stock option gurantees equity,stability and longevity.

faithin9ja:
All the above comments are foolish and ignorant. Why did we need a so-called national carrier, what stupid pride are projecting. Let's feed the whole country first, provide electricity and security, then we can be proud.

Name any country with a profitable national carrier? The richest, most peaceful countries don't have National carriers but they still have functioning aviation services with decent airports.

Denmark, United States, Argentina, Britain, Spain, Belgium, Mexico, Italy name their national carriers (please don't name the private sector airlines that have no business with the government)

CFCfan:

Kenya airways and Ethiopian are pretty profitable. Emirates (despite being a "govt corporation" is quite profitable too.

Rawani:


Going by this logic, a driver that has distinguished himself on the road can be handed a 747, as he will transfer his excellent credentials to the cockpit. After all he 'acquitted himself creditably' *smh*

CFCfan:

Mr. Chidoka doesn't need to be an aviation expert in order to set up a national carrier.

CFCfan:

Okay. A 50-50 deal between Lufthansa and Nigerian private investors seems to be workable. I think the new carrier could also be able to fly to German cities (or city), just like the Arik and Emirates partnership whereby Arik still does the Lagos-Dubai route.

faithin9ja:


So our models should be Kenya and or Ethopia? Emirates, Ethical and the other Gulf airlines are 'vanity' models owned by billionaire country leaders such as their ownership of Manchester City.

Nigeria does NOT need a national carrier, any private business that thinks it can run a profitable and SAFE airline can do so, it does not need any identity with Nigeria.

Our prestige venture should be the best health care in Africa not airline that 90% of the people will never use.

CFCfan:
^^
I kinda agree with you. I'd prefer the ownership structure of the national carrier to be as follows:

FG - 20%

Nigerian citizens and institutions - 50%

Foreign citizens and institutions - 30%

A start-up capital of around $2bn would put the airline on a solid financial footing. The airline's primary hubs would be Lagos and Abuja; whilst its secondary hubs would be Port Harcourt, Enugu and Uyo.

As for the its international routes, I will suggest flights to these cities:

North America - Vancouver (Canada), Houston, San Francisco, *Los Angeles (United States).

South America - São Paulo (Brazil)

Europe - London, Paris, Amsterdam, Milan, Brussels, Barcelona

Africa - Johannesburg, Accra, Abidjan, Dakar, Yaounde, Nairobi, Casablanca.

Asia - Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo, Mumbai, Abu Dhabi.

*Seasonal flights to Los Angeles, and Jamaica should also be explored.

daveP:
i hope as the FG may have 20percent that it should not be expensive for its citizens.


They can start by making it affordable and yet standard service like before.

Mumc na book of records o

oga mi i hail o!

CFCfan:

Yes, the airline could introduce low fares for the first few months of operations to attract customers of the other carriers.

CFCfan:

I agree that our health-care system should be the envy of Africa, however, a national carrier could massively spur the development of indigenous aviation manpower.