Three months to the commencement of the £3000 visa bond regime due to be imposed on Nigerians travelling to the United Kingdom, the Federal Government may have perfected plans to impose a £5,000 visa bond on prospective British citizens visiting Nigeria.

This is in retaliation to the new but controversial immigration policy of the UK scheduled to commence in November 2013.
The Home Office of the United Kingdom, recently classified Nigeria, India, as “high risk” and placed a £3,000 bond on every Nigerian visiting Britain.

The bond will be forfeited to the British government if an immigrant overstays his permit. More than two million Nigerians are residing in the UK. Uproar had greeted the immigration policy described as “discriminatory” since its announcement in June.

Nigeria is one of the countries put on the British “high-risk-list”. Others are India, Ghana, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The countries are slated for the pilot scheme of the new immigration policy to check immigration abuses.

A reliable source at the Nigerian High Commission in London told National Mirror that the refusal of the British Government to backpedal on the visa bond compelled Nigeria to fight back.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, had earlier assured that Nigeria would react appropriately if the policy was eventually implemented.

The source, who is a senior officer of the High Commission but did not want his name mentioned, told our correspondent in London that Nigeria had officially protested to the British government over the policy.

He, however, said that there was no sign that the British would rescind the decision.

“As a responsible country, we have protested officially against the discriminatory policy to the British government. But from all indications there is no going back on the policy. We have tried to make them see reasons on the need to review the new immigration policy, but it is like a done deal.

“Don’t forget that Nigeria has threatened to retaliate if the policy is implemented. So, we are only waiting for the implementation and the modalities of the new British immigration policy. But I can assure you that the Nigerian government won’t fold its hands. We would even raise the stake beyond the £3,000 they are asking Nigerians to pay as bond. We are looking at £5,000 as visa bond for UK citizens visiting Nigeria. This is our plan, which is subject to the approval of the Federal Government,” the source told National Mirror yesterday.

This stand is bound to strain the diplomatic relations between Britain and its former colony, Nigeria.

Early this year, British Prime Minister David Cameron chided Nigeria for passing anti-gay bill and threatened to cut aid to the country. Also, Cameron recently berated Nigerian leaders for the mismanagement of the country’s huge natural resources. But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesman, Ogbole Amedu Odeh, denied knowledge of the £5,000 visa bond.

“I’m just hearing that from you. I’m not aware of any £5,000 visa bond for British citizens,” Odeh told National Mirror on phone yesterday. “Nigeria has not got official correspondence from the British government. Anytime Nigeria gets official communication on the policy, we will react appropriately.”

Meanwhile, Nigerians in the UK under the umbrella of the Central Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom, CANUK, have said that if this bond is implemented, wrong people will be targeted.

In an interview with National Mirror in London, CANUK Chairman, Bimbo Folayan, said: “On the visa bond, we’ve expressed our feelings that this is not a right policy. We feel that the wrong people are being targeted. We believe that this will be counter-productive and we think this is more political, more economical than immigration related.

“We have protested to the Commonwealth Office, they have listened to us and they promised to get back to us.

“Because of the present situation of British economy, it is probably another way for the Home Office to make money. But that will be to the detriment of genuine travellers. The £3,000 bond will only swell the purse of the British government.”

They, however, opposed the planned retaliation of the British immigration policy by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Folayan added: “Our position is that two wrongs cannot make a right. I believe that Nigerian government should not retaliate wrongly. Three times this year, I have gone to Nigeria with British investors. So, it means if I’m going to Nigeria, I will have to look for £5,000 visa bond for each of the visitors.

“So, this can only hurt Nigeria. This can hurt investment inflow in Nigeria. We do not support the £5,000 proposed visa bond. Either way, from the British government or Nigerian government, we do not support the policy.

“Policies are made and can be changed. If this is injurious to the economy of the UK, they have to change the policy. I don’t see anything cast in stone on the matter.”

The group, however, said that there was no basis for Nigerians to come to UK illegally.

“The region of the world that is enjoying growth is Africa and that is where the focus is. In UK, we are not recording so much growth and the economic forecast is not too promising.

“So, everybody is feeling the pain. There are not many jobs in the UK any more. There is actually no basis for any youth to leave Nigeria and live in UK illegally because, one, there are no jobs. Two, if you come illegally, that is even worse because you cannot get a job without relevant papers like work permit whereas there are opportunities in Nigeria,” Folayan said.

Nigerians also decried their being labelled as “high risks”. “Nigeria is not high risk. The vast majority of Nigerians living in UK are students, workers and those born in the country. That is not to say that there are no illegal immigrants.

“We strongly feel that Nigeria is not a high risk country regardless of the statistics they might have gathered. We object to targeting a few countries, calling them ‘high risk’.

“We do not support illegal immigrants. We actually encourage Nigerians in the UK to regularise their papers. We’re also in the forefront of encouraging Nigerians living in UK illegally to embrace the opportunity that have been provided by the International Organisation of Migration, IOM, for them to go back home and live more meaningfully than staying in UK without getting a job because of lack of regular papers.”

The group noted that the £3,000 bond would only embolden desperate people rather than serve as deterrent.

Air travelers in Nigeria have the right to demand for reimbursement after a two-hour flight delay, aviation authorities said on Tuesday, adding that passengers also have the right to free snacks, two phone calls or two emails after just an hour delay on a domestic route.

Air travellers who are delayed between 10p.m. and 4a.m. or at anytime when the airport point of departure or arrival is closed, also have the right to a hotel accommodation and transportation, said Captain Fola Akinkuotu, Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.

Akinkuotu, who addressed journalists in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, said the law protecting air travellers in the country, had always existed but was not implemented.

“The fact that the law is not implemented does not mean it’s not there. The law has always been there. We are on an enlightenment campaign,” he said.

Akinkuoto said on international flights, passengers who are delayed between two and four hours have the right to receive free refreshments and facilities for two free telephone calls, two SMS or two emails.

He said passengers who are delayed beyond four hours on international flights have the right to a free meal and communication facilities. Airlines that delay international passengers for up to six hours, he added, must accommodate them and transport them from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the airport.

“The passengers’ bill of rights essentially is common sense. You are travelling, your flight is delayed, don’t you think you have the right to be informed?” Akinkuotu queried.

“You don’t just wake up and say you want to go to Abuja. You plan to go to Abuja. You plan for the time to go to Abuja, you plan for the time to arrive there,” he said, adding, “If the flight is delayed, you have the right to know. You have the right not to be left there in the cold.”

Akinkuotu rejected arguments that with Nigerian airlines already under financial burden and heavy debts as well as skyrocketing aviation fuel, the new measures may be too drastic, saying “Why should the customer pay for your mistake? It’s not our intention to run any airline out of business with this law.”

He said airlines should do their homework properly to be successful in aviation business.

“My thoughts on any business is that we have to do a little home work. The most important thing is compliance with the regulation and the need for education,” he said.

For flight cancellations, Akinkuotu said passengers on domestic or international routes have the right refreshments, meals, hotel accommodation and transportation between hotel and airport. They also have the right to compensation, immediate reimbursement of full ticket cost or rerouted at the cost of the operator airline.

He said on international flights, passengers have the right to compensation and reimbursement in cash within fourteen days of full ticket cost at the price or re-routed at the cost of the operator airline.

According to the law, for downgrading a ticket to a lower cabin class, the passenger has the right to reimbursement of 30 percent of full ticket price for domestic flights and 60 percent of full ticket price for international flights.

However, for upgrading a ticket to higher ticket without a request from the passenger, the traveller has the right not to be required to pay any extra fare.

Akinkuotu called on passengers whose rights have been breached to direct their complaints to NCAA offices at various terminal buildings across the country.

He said NCAA will create more visibility at airports but urged on passengers to direct their complaints first to the airlines.

The NCAA boss said even as passengers have rights unruly behaviour will not be tolerated.

He said passengers’ rights do not cover those who are travelling on free tickets

First Nation Nigeria Airways massive jobs recruitment, August 2013

First Nation Nigeria Airways Limited - We are seeking applications from thorough bred professionals committed to safety and excellent customer service to fill the following positions:

1.) Quality Assurance Inspectors – Maintenance
Role / Requirements
Quality is the art of maintaining a safe operation and we seek experienced Quality Assurance Inspectors in Maintenance. Candidates shall hold valid NCAA AME licence with at least ten years experience including five years in QualityAssurance department of an airline.

2.) Quality Assurance Inspectors – Operations

Requirements
Ideal candidate for Quality Assurance Inspectors in Flight Operations shall be licenced Pilots, with at least ten years experience in the airline industry. Previous experience as Flight Inspector or trainer will be an advantage.
3.) Webmaster / IT System Engineer

Requirements
Opportunity exists for an exceptional Webmaster to take control of our web platform and raise its level of presence, content and functionality. Ideal candidate will be a University graduate in Computer Science/Information Technology with relevant professional qualification and proven records of at least five years experience managing website of a world-class airline or of a major e-commerce.

4.) Store & Inventory Control Officer
Requirements
Candidate with at least University degree or equivalent professional qualification. The Ideal candidate must have strong background in stock and inventory control and must have three years post qualification experience in an airline.
5.) Legal Officer

Requirements
We are looking for a brilliant Legal Officer, holder of LLB with 2nd Class Upper division and with a minimum of six years post qualification experience. The ideal legal officer shall have both litigation and corporate law experience, previous experience in the legal department of a reputable airline or a good law firm with strong corporate practice experience will be valuable.

6.) Corporate Affairs Officer
Requirements
Information is an important aspect of our general operations. We therefore seek an energetic, gifted and exceptional corporate affairs candidate with at least a University degree with a minimum of six years experience in media relation and corporate affairs of a reputable organisation. The ideal candidate shall have the ability to publish in-house magazines, press releases, be a goal getter, and self confident.

7.) Training Manager
Roles/ Requirements
We seek experienced Training Manager that is well grounded at planning and implementing the demanding and complex training requirements of a vibrantAirline. Candidate must be self starter and must have held position of Training Manager of an Airline. A university degree holder, previous experience as Pilot or Engineer or Instructor with proven managerial skill are mandatory requirements.

8.) Secretaries
Requirements
Come on board if you are an articulate first degree holder in Secretarial Administration with professional qualification and at least 5 years experience in a corporate entity. Ideal candidate must be a self-starter with good office administration skill, impeccable English language ability and good typing speed proficiency.

9.) Passenger Sales Officers
Requirements
Location: Abuja, Calabar, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt & Uyo
We are looking for dynamic passenger officers with a minimum of IATA Diploma or first degree from a recognized University with five years experience in an airline. Applicants will demonstrate proof of residence in their city of preference within the last five years.

10.) Station Managers
Location: Abuja, Calabar, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt & Uyo
Role / Requirements
This is an exciting opportunity for exceptional and gifted Managers to head our: Abuja, Calabar, Enugu, Lagos, Kano, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt and Uyo operations. Station Managers will represent the airline and be responsible for the administration of the operation. Candidates will be University graduates, holder of ATA/UFTA with at least 10 years airline experience, three of which must be recently as a Station Manager and not be less than 30 years old.

11.) Flight Dispatchers
Requirements
Are you an NCAA licensed Flight Dispatcher with at least five years experience in flight dispatch? Are you familiar with electronic flight plan? Are you a professional in crew administration? If you qualify, you have a great career ahead of you at FirstNation. Candidates must have at least five years experience.



APPLY HERE http://flynaija.org/first-nation-airways-is-recruiting-for-various-positions/

Dana Airlines Limited (Dana Air) is a member of Dana Group of Companies Plc. The airline began commercial flight operations on Monday, November 10, 2008 and has grown to become one of Nigeria’s leading airlines
.
Dana Air, Nigeria’s first low fare airline, is introducing a fleet of Boeing MD83 aircrafts for its scheduled commercial operations and a brand new BombardierLearjet 45 XR for its executive charter operations.
Dana Airlines Limited is recruiting to fill the position of:

A. Job Title: Flight Crew – 4 Positions

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

1.) Boeing MD80 Captains:
Exp: Total Flight Time in excess of 5000 hours, PIC hours on type
2.) Boeing MD80 First Officers:
Exp: Total Flight Time in excess of 1500 hours, 500 hours on type
3.) Bombardier Learjet 45XR Captains:
Exp: Total Flight Time in excess of 5000 hours, 500 hours on Learjet aircraft
4.) Bombardier Learjet 45XR First Officers:
Exp: Total Flight Time in excess of 1500 hours, 250 hours on Learjet aircraft
Note: All Applicants must have ICAO/JAR/FAA licence, Class 1 medical.
Proficiency in English is mandatory.

CLICK HERE FOR OTHER POSITIONS http://flynaija.org/dana-airline-recruiting-for-various-positions/

The level of internet penetration in Nigeria and general usage has been increasing astronomically in the last few years. In recent surveys, internet users in Nigeria have risen from 200,000 in the year 2000 to more than 48 million by the end of 2012. What this means for travelers is that they can search and book travel deals from the comfort of their homes to any destination in the world. So why should I use a travel agent?

Just a couple of years ago, headlines were about the demise of the travel agent, about to go the way of the Dodo and the dinosaur. Guess what? Travel agents are not only still here, they are experiencing a rebound – despite (or because of) the myriad travel tools available online.

Some domestic and international airlines in Nigeria have encouraged travelers in the past to buy travel tickets and deals for discounted prices online. A particular case that caused some problems was that of Emirates Airlines, who continued to introduce cheaper fares for travelers online. These fares were cheaper than what any travel agent could offer travelers using any of the Global Distribution System (GDS). After series of meetings and intervention from the National Association of Nigerian Travelling Agencies (NANTA), Emirates Airlines decided to make some changes.

Aside the airline websites, there are many sites where travelers can compare prices for air tickets, hotels, cruises etc. These sites claim to have the lowest prices on everything you need to travel, and all the booking can be finished in a matter of seconds. But how do you know that you’re really getting what you’re signing up for?

Even with all of these technological advancements, some people continue to hire travel agents. While this may seem old-fashioned, there are some serious perks to working with an experienced agent.
What Is The Typical Training of a Travel Agent?

Travel agencies usually require agents to have a business or liberal arts degree from a four-year college or university. Many agencies also require their agents to be fluent in the language of the location they intend to specialize in. Most travel agents will also have extensive experience in customer service.

In addition to this, they also go through series of trainings and certifications provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the world’s governing body in the aviation industry.


What Does a Travel Agent Do?
At the most basic level, travel agents are salespeople. They need to be familiar with all the services their agency offers and be able to cater to their clients’ specific needs. Everything from travel dates to accommodation quality to cancellation policies and available transportation will be considered by the agent. They have many “insider” tips for different destinations and will be confirming each and every reservation made.

Travel agents book travel plans for everyone from honeymooning couples to large businesses. Some travel agents specialize in group ventures, such as tour packages or cruise vacations for a large crowd. Some specialize in certain geographical areas or one specific destination. Travel agents have unique relationships with vendors in order to help you get the best deals possible.

What Are The Benefits of Using a Travel Agent?

If you’re busy with work, kids, or school, you probably have little time left over to sit at the computer and search for travel deals. This is where hiring a travel agent can be invaluable. If you’ve never booked your own trip and have no idea where to start, a travel agent can be a lifesaver. By the way, if you are planning to start a travel agency in Nigeria, then you should check out tips here.

If you’re traveling abroad for the first time, a travel agent is a trustworthy source for all the small details you’ll need to consider, including currency conversion, cell phone use, passports, translation and medicine. If you’re looking to plan a complicated trip that involves multiple means of transportation and several destinations, a travel agent is definitely the right way to go.

Another benefit of using a travel agent is that you have a go-to person if things go wrong. If you miss a flight, get stranded or have trouble with transportation, your travel agent will be on call to help you out. Having a travel agent in your corner can especially help you out if you’re stuck dealing with terrible customer service from a car rental company or hotel concierge.

There are many, many more good reasons. But the bottom line is that they know more than you do, they are better connected than you, they have access to benefits you can’t get otherwise, they can often beat any other prices available (even online, yes), and after you have planned everything, they provide a safety net during your trip that you simply won’t get by booking yourself or buying insurance.

Having a top travel agent can also make you an instant VIP – free room upgrades, hard to get restaurant reservations, cutting lines, access to otherwise closed stores and exhibits, private guides, and cheaper – often much cheaper – premium airfares. Here’s the best part: even though most top agents charge fees, travel agents have saved travelers money, often a lot of money, thousands of naira, and in every case, more than paid themselves.

To be clear, we are talking about true experts, the really good travel agents who add value, not the ones running full page ads of deals in the newspapers. The best travel agents are essentially consultants, and many prefer “travel advisor,” because it is their advice, expertise, and connections that are of great value, not the ability to print airline tickets for you.

If you are traveling from Lagos to Abuja for instance, we don’t see any reason why you need a travel agent. In most cases, travel agencies that sell domestic fares to customers are probably doing so to keep the customers or to lure you into buying your next international travel deals from them. Take this from us, agencies don’t make “money” from domestic routes.

Nigerian Travelers’ Attitude
Why do many Nigerian travelers hardly respect travel agents? Yes, we asked this question because of our vast experience in the industry. A lot of customers who make enquiries are rude in one way or the other to travel agents. Some customers think they are superior to the agents and that they are well traveled. So when then do you need to call a travel agent if you know so much? Travel agents may not have traveled to many places but they have been trained enough to know about places they haven’t visited. If you are one of those customers, you might want to relax a bit.

What do you think? In the age of one click bookings and infinite information do you find it useful to hire a travel agent to plan and schedule your trips? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Etihad Airways is the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates. The airline was set up by a Royal Decree in July 2003, with Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, as its hub. Etihad started commercial operations in November 2003.

Job Title: Key Account Manager - Nigeria
Location: Lagos
Department: Sales

Job Purpose
Aim and reach your goal. With this exciting position you must be able to achieve profitable sales revenue to an agreed target for a sales territory and/or portfolio of clients; promote the Etihad brand, products and services through the primary distribution channels available; negotiate & account manage commercial agreements with top national accounts.

Responsibilities
You will be responsible to achieve the set revenue, yield and volume targets by zone.
You will complete, submit and agree weekly call plan of sales activity.
You will complete and execute individual account development plans for top 20% of agents.
You will ensure territory activity is within agreed cost of sale targets.
You will Implement sales territory marketing plan to agreed activity.

Requirements
You must be educated to a degree level or equivalent.
Post holder must have a minimumof 4 years airline or travel industry experience of which at least 2 years in sales role.
Training on negotiation and sales techniques
Must have training on account development planning
Strong computer skills, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Reservation and Ticketing.
Must be fluent on both oral and written English language with strong presentation skills.
You must be a self starter with strong planning and excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Trained on MIDT and Sales Force Automation systems.
Post holder must have good analytical skills to make positive use of broad range of data information and able to work under pressure and to short lead times.

Operating Environment:
You will be operating within a pressurized environment, working remotely and independently with a minimum supervision. Regularly working long hours and may ask to participate in evening customer oriented events and travel as required for training or familiarization visits.

APPLY HERE http://flynaija.org/job-opening-etihad-airwayskey-account-manager/

Unconfirmed report has it that a Lagos-bound Aero Contractors Boeing 737 had to make a quick return to Abuja Airport just minutes after takeoff.

The 8:45 pm Flight AJ 136 took off in a wobbly manner on Tuesday night just after 9:00 pm but barely 10 minutes into the air, the pilot announced to the scared passengers that he was returning to Abuja on account of a technical fault connected with a door.

It was a scary moment as the shaking plane made its way back to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Upon landing, the crew announced to the passengers that Aero engineers would prepare another plane to complete the journey.

But some of the passengers scampered off the plane in fear and relief. Some others remained on their seats, waiting to board the replacement aircraft.

Mr. Seyi Olayinka, for three weeks shuttles between Kubwa where he lives and the South Africa embassy in the Central Business district of Abuja for his visa.

Mr. Olayinka was supposed to have started a programme in Business Administration on the 7th of July, 2013 in Durban.
According to him, he still does not know when he would get his visa to finally resume school.

This and many more is what Nigerian visa applicants suffer daily from South African embassy officials.
Even those with official and diplomatic passports, there is no assurance that they get better treatment from the SA embassy officials.

However, Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan and President Jacob Zuma had earlier this year signed an agreement aimed at ending visa bottlenecks associated with the acquisition of visa by holders of official and diplomatic passports from both countries.

The move was to put an end to lingering issues of visa procurement by citizens of both countries.
Both countries will begin implementing free entry into South Africa and Nigeria for diplomatic and official passport holders.

The waiver was only meant to be a first step in the eventual scheme of things, as there was the need to remove all impediments to the movement of facilitators and agents and promoters of economic relations.

By the agreement, those with blue and diplomatic passport would not need to get visas before they enter South Africa while those with the green passport are expected to get up to 5 years resident permit.

Interestingly, statistics have shown that in 2012 alone, South Africa received a total of 73,282 Nigerian tourists which is 13.8 percent increase from 2011 contributing about 720 million Rands (N11.8 billion) to the South African economy within the period.”

FrontiersNews investigation showed that despite the agreement, implementation is yet to kick off as according to close sources “South Africa is still foot dragging about the whole thing.”

This was further confirmed by South African Journalist, Sabelo Ndlangisa, who said that SA is unlikely to lift travel restrictions for Nigerian ­citizens in the near future, even though the West African country wants visas to be waived for ­nationals of the continent’s two most powerful economies.

Quoting Mr. Obed Bapela, Deputy Minister in the presidency for monitoring and evaluation and the ANC’s International Relations head, Ndlangisa said the South African government was hesitant because information technology systems between the two countries were not compatible. Nigeria, which has a population of 167?million, does not yet have a population register.

“We know who is who in our population because we have a census that we keep updating. In Nigeria, with such a big population, if they all apply to come to South Africa without a visa, we’ll not be able to check who is here and who has gone back.

“Those are the issues and the ­instruments that we say we are willing to (waive), but (Nigeria) could put systems in its own governance that begin to give us comfort as South Africans that this movement, while it needs to be freer, is also a controlled one,” he said.

He said South Africa’s concerns over security were not dissimilar to those raised by the UK, which has required South African travellers to the UK to hold visas until South African identity documents are safer and not as easy to forge.

But in a separate chat , Assistant Comptroller General in charge of Visa/Entry permit in Immigration, Mr. Godwin Ogbejuwa, while acknowledging that the agreement was in progress said a lot still needed to be done to make the agreement fully operational.

Mr. Ogbejuwa said: “I think the agreement which bothers on admittance of some certain persons within the two countries, I mean holders of diplomatic and official passports; it is on, we have reached some high level in our discussion with our counterpart in South Africa.

“As of the last time we held meetings together with the officials of the foreign Affairs they presented their own specimen copy of their official passport and the diplomatic, we have also directed our service provider (Iris Smart Technologies ) to forward our specimen to us, (Visa and Entry Permit Department ) once we get the specimen, the actual implementation will take place , once all the conditions have been met. And that I can assure you will take place soonest,” he further explained.

But with Nigeria yet to put in place a central database that captures its 167million population, the visa agreement may just be another in the several agreements that have been entered into by the country over the years.

HAK Air was incorporated in 1990 primarily to serve as a charter airline and it was mainly involved in HAJJ operations. The airline is presently underway to commence scheduled commercial operations within Nigeria and ultimately expand its shores to West Africa, the rest of Africa and the entire World.

The Airline is being organized to take advantage of a specific gap in the short-haul domestic travel market in Nigeria and eventually position itself to fill the void of a major carrier within the West African Market. The airline will have Lagos (LOS) as its hub.
To become the preferred leading air carrier with a global network of coverage with strict compliance to flight safety, reliability, product line, service quality and competitiveness.

Hak Air Nigeria Limited is recruiting to fill the following positions below:

1.) Pilot


2.) Airport Baggage Handlers - 5 Positions



3.) Duty Officer - 5 Positions



4.) Passenger Service Agents - 5 Positions



5.) Customer Service Agents - 5 Positions



6.) Ramp Officers




7.) Flight Dispatcher - 6 Positions


Application Closing Date
31st July, 2013

APPLY HERE http://flynaija.org/hak-air-graduate-experienced-recruitment-28-positions/

The federal government and its private investor partners may have concluded that the new national carrier, known as Nigeria One, would start operation with 50 aircraft that would be delivered before the end of next year.

Among the aircraft types that would be operated by the national airline include Embraer, Bombardier and Boeing.

THISDAY gathered from authoritative sources on Wednesday that while Embraer short haul aircraft types would be used for domestic operations, medium haul Bombardier would be used for regional services and Boeing planes would be used for long haul international flights.

All these aircraft would be delivered from the manufacturers, but it is not known yet whether they would be leased or they would be acquired by outright purchase.

As government is planning on how to establish the airline, it is also brainstorming on route development and reporters learnt that right now the body set out to establish the airline is meeting with some airlines for possible code share and other partnership with the future airlines, and in recognition of this the federal government is streamlining its bilateral service agreements with individual countries, aware that it would soon have its national carrier.

As the Ministry of Aviation has reiterated, the federal government does not intend and will not fund the establishment of the airline as it has designed an arrangement where the airline would be funded on public private partnership (PPP).

The private sector will drive the airline while government intends to own less than 25 per cent equity while significant percentage of the equity would be sold to the core investor, which is an international carrier, that will also influence the establishment of a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO facility) that would be completed shortly after the take-off of the national carrier.

It was also learnt that an international carrier from the Middle East has indicated interest to partner the airlines and an international business tycoon may put his money in the airline as a significant investor.

In spite of the bleak history of airline operation in Nigeria and the failed Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Nigeria partnership, the plan to attract foreign investors for the new national carrier attracted surprising enthusiasm from overseas.

Kenya airways, is a reputable airline looking for ambitious high filter with exceptional qualities to fill the position below.

Country Manager

Job TypeFull Time
Min Qualification
Location: Lagos
Job Field Administration

To sell the Kenya airways product and network to achieve the set sales target within Nigeria

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

To derive the sales plan for Nigeria to deliver the budgeted objectives
To monitor and recommend pricing levels in Nigeria to maximize yield and revenue
To identify new sales opportunities and take steps to implement them for new revenue streams
Develop and service trade pattern to maximize loyalty and revenue generation
To be the principal administrator for Kenya airways in Nigeria while safeguarding KQ interest.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE

University graduate in a relevant area of study
Minimum of 5 years airline experience in sales and marketing of which 2 must be at a senior level
Computer literate with valid driving license
Ability to lead and motivate a team.
Strong analytical skills
Good negotiator and ability to influence proficiency

COMPETENCIES

High level of integrity
Good communicator and articulate
Good negotiator
Proactive/self starter
Good KQ product knowledge

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR

Achieve market share passenger and revenue target as set (yields ,revenues and pax numbers)
Visible revenue/passenger number growth
Meet set target on frequent flyer program and redemption target
Highly efficiency standards through quality of customer relationship

APPLY HERE http://flynaija.org/country-manager-at-kenya-airways-nigeria/

The management of Dana Airline has announced a special service for their passengers during the Ramadan season.

Dana airline made this announcement through their Facebook page on Tuesday.

“We are pleased to announce that we will offer our Muslim guests a special in-flight service throughout the period of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, which begins on Wednesday, July 10″.

“All through the fasting period, we will include special fruits in our in-flight catering due to the numerous health benefits they bring. Also, nutritionists advise to break a fast with fruits before having any solid meal”.

According to the management of Dana, the service is to encourage their Muslim guests who are observing the daytime fasting to take along their in-flight meals while disembarking until they are ready to break their fast”.

Dana Airlines currently operate twelve (12) flights daily on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route, four (4) flights daily on the Lagos-Port Harcourt-Lagos route and two (2) flights daily on the Abuja-Port Harcourt-Abuja route.

. Four Nobel Prize winners will lead gathering of global experts in examiningnew integrated approach to fight the ‘Triple Epidemic’ of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis in Africa

The Gabonese Republic will host an international symposium this week to promote an integrated approach to addressing the Triple Epidemic of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis in Africa. Taking place in the two Gabonese cities of Libreville and Lambaréné on July 6-7, the symposium will be mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Dr. Albert Schweitzer hospital in Lambaréné.Dr.Schweitzer, who was awarded the1952 Nobel Peace Prize, is noted as one of the 20th century’s greatest humanitarians.

During the two-day symposium, four Nobel Laureates will join more than 80 speakers and 250 delegates from around the world for discussions that evaluate connectionswithin the Triple Epidemicand explore a holistic approach to treatment,rather than providing exhaustive data on each of the pathologies.Together, these participants -leaders in their field who includemedical researchers, scientists, doctors, social sciences experts, private sector stakeholders, and representatives of NGOs andhealth agencies - will produce a roadmap for coordination and collaboration - named the Lambaréné Declaration.
The symposium is held under the High Patronage of H.E. Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Gabonese Republic, who said: “Schweitzer was a man of many talents and interests, but above all else he believed in the value of life and the responsibility to care for it. For a century, his hospital and our country have been home to his legacy of dedication to health and quality of life for all people. We are so proud of this honor, and we hold dearly our continued responsibility to it.”

Noted speakersat the symposium include:

• DR. PETER AGRE, Director, John Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2003) for his discovery of proteins known as aquaporinsthat move water molecules through the cell membrane (USA)
• LEYMAH GBOWEE, Co-Founder, Women in Peace and Security Network, awareded the Nobel Peace Prize (2011) for her non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work (Liberia)
• DR. LUC MONTAGNIER, Founder, Fondation Mondiale Recherche et Prévention SIDA, awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2008) for his discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (France)
• DR. ROLF MARTIN ZINKERNAGEL, Professor of Experimental immunology, University of Zurich, awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1996) for the discovery of how the immune system recognizes virus-infected cells (Switzerland)

As part of the Centennial celebrations, President Bongo will announce the Albert Schweitzer GabonAward.PromotingDr Schweitzer’s humanitarian values, the award will support fundamental research in combatting the infectious diseases that most affect citizens in tropical regions across the globe.
The Albert Schweitzer Hospital centennial is produced by Richard Attias and Associates.

From August 2013, foreign and domestic airlines operating in the country will pay heavy fines and compensations for flight delays, cancellations, lost baggage and other related anomalies which are covered in the Passengers Bill of Rights.

The Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Dr. Fola Akinkuotu, made the disclosure at an open forum held at the NCAA’s office in Lagos on Thursday.

He said the Passengers Bill of Right would be circulated to all stakeholders in the sector before the end of this month.
‘The Passengers Bill of Rights will come into effect before the end of July; the passengers and airline operators will get to know their rights and obligations. The regulator will just sit to make sure there is compliance,’ Akinkuotu said.

The NCAA boss said it was high time airline operators stopped maltreating their passengers, adding that the implementation of the bill of rights would help put an end to unfair practices by airlines.

He gave an assurance that the regulatory body would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that both passengers and airlines were given enough information about the bill within the next two to three weeks.

Akinkuotu added, ‘It is not good for passengers to get raw deals from the airlines. What is sauce for the geese is also sauce for the gander. We have a responsibility to ensure that the bill of rights works.

‘We need to make sure passengers get good deals and value for their money. We need to let them know that air transport is the best way to go, and that they will get good deals and value for money.’

The bill of rights was first introduced to stakeholders early last year in Lagos.

NCAA had said then that the new set of rights applied to passengers departing from an airport located within the Nigerian territory to another airport within the country; passengers departing from an airport located in another country to an airport situated within Nigeria; and to foreign air transportation with respect to non-stop flight segments originating at a point within the country.

The regulatory body, however, noted that the new regulations would not apply to passengers travelling free of charge or at reduced fares not available directly or indirectly to the general public.

It said the rule would apply to passengers having tickets issued under a frequent flyer programme or other commercial programmes by an air carrier or tour operator.

Akinkuotu, in his first public appearance after his confirmation as the new DG of NCAA, said he would work with the airlines operators if they followed the rules.

He said the regulatory body would have a human face, just as it would not tolerate any unlawful act from any operator or service provider.

Akinkuotu and his team assured operators at the open forum that NCAA would do everything possible to move the sector forward.

The DG also said the agency would make the process of registering aircraft in the country easier.
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The 11 Kenyans who were released after three weeks of detention in Nigeria have finally arrived in Nairobi.

Officials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport told Capital FM News that the private jet carrying the Kenyans, mainly security personnel landed at 4am on Friday.
“They arrived. They have already gone to their homes but the jet is here,” an official at the airport said.

The 11 Kenyans were detained in Nigeria for violating unspecified security regulations after deporting suspected drug traffickers, including controversial businessman Anthony Chinedu who was facing various charges in court.

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Amina Mohamed and Government Spokesman Muthui Kariuki on Wednesday announced that the Kenyans were released following spirited negotiations with the Nigerian government.

“The release was as a result of top level negotiations between the Government of Nigeria and senior officials of the Government of Kenya,” Kariuki said.

He disclosed that the Nigerian government had waived parking fees the jet accumulated during the time it was held.

“This breakthrough is a testimony to the good relations that have always existed between the people of Nigeria and the people of Kenya,” he added.

“The people of Kenya are grateful to His Excellency the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, for his concern and contribution towards the release of our people and the aircraft.”

The Kenyans were detained together with the hired jet used to deport the Nigerians.

Their deportation came after President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered security forces to deport all foreigners suspected of trafficking drugs in the country.

The Nigerian government stated the aircraft flouted unspecified security procedures and had to be grounded.

Although the Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary has said the parking fees and other charges accumulated at the Nigerian airport were waived, it still unclear how much the jet cost the Kenyan tax payer, considering the contract period was extended following the detention.

Airlines are constantly cancelling tickets, changing, combining, rerouting, and rescheduling flights.

And some travelers often want to change their own plans, flights, and schedule, even after buying tickets. Bankrupt airlines (Nigeria Airways), low-fare airlines, and airlines that are struggling to avoid bankruptcy are especially likely to make drastic changes to their routes and schedules, in an attempt to find a recipe for profitability.

Following is some information about what might be possible in such situations, how to arrange it, and what it might cost. You should consider these issues carefully before you buy any airline tickets. These answers to FAQ’s describe common policies and travel industry practices, but each ticket has its own set of rules.

Similar tickets sold by different airlines may have very different rules, and airlines often have incomplete information and provide inaccurate advice about the rules of tickets purchased from travel agents. If you have any questions, do not rely on this Web page: consult the travel agency from which you bought your tickets (or the airline, if you bought your tickets directly from the airline), for the exact rules of your specific tickets.

What happens if I no longer want to go to certain destinations, or to fly on certain airlines, after I have bought my airline tickets?

Don’t count on being permitted to change your route, destinations, or airlines without penalty, regardless of what happens — even in the event of illness or injury, natural disaster, war, or terrorist incident. Neither airlines nor travel agencies are required to offer refunds or waive refund or change penalties or fees in such cases, and many insurance policies exclude coverage for costs that result from war, terrorism, or government orders.

Once tickets are issued, changes of route (sequence of cities and connection points), destinations, and/or airlines can generally be made only at substantial cost. In order to change your route, destinations, or airlines after buying your tickets, you may have to buy new tickets and/or forfeit the amount you have paid for non refundable tickets that you choose not to use. With “load factors” (the percentage of seats filled with paying passengers) increasing, and more flights entirely full, there may not be any space available on an alternate flight.

What can I do if I want to change my plans?

Some airlines have made special rules for changes to tickets in the event of war, a “security alert” by the government, illness or injury, etc.. Airlines are not required to do this, or to make any exceptions to their normal cancellation, refund, and change rules. These special rules do not apply to all airlines, situations, all tickets, or all routes. Check with the airline for any special rules that may apply to your tickets, or any exceptions to normal rules that the airline may have made.

Many tickets permit date changes, as long as you stick to the originally ticketed airlines and routing and there is a flight with space available on your desired new dates. (In general, consolidator tickets purchased form a travel agency are more likely to permit date changes than are tickets purchased directly from the airline or at a published fare.)
If you are no longer interested in visiting a particular destination, the most economical option is often simply to revise your dates to minimize your stay there. Depending on the flight frequency and schedules, you might be able simply to change planes and continue on, without having to leave the airport, but if flights are less frequent or fully booked you might have to spend one or more nights in transit. Check with your travel agent (or the airline, if you bought your tickets directly from the airline) for schedule options and the date change rules, fees (if any), and procedures for your specific tickets.

What if an airline changes its routes or discontinues flights because of war, terrorism, bankruptcy, strike, weather, or other events?

An airline is required either to fly you between the destinations specified on your ticket, or to give you a full refund. If the airline is still operating, and still serves the cities specified on your tickets (even on a different route, or by way of different connection points), the airline will usually arrange to transport you on alternate route. This may also require a change of dates, depending on how often alternate flights operate and how many seats are available on them. A recent example in Nigeria was the strike actions by staff of Aero Contractors. Some passengers were re-routed on other airlines.

If an airline discontinues all service on any route to a specific destination, and you have tickets to that destination, the airline will often “endorse” your ticket to another airline, and arrange for that airline to transport you for all or part of the journey. Arrangements to have tickets endorsed to an alternate airline, in the event of cancellation of service to a destination on your route, generally must be made directly with the airline on which you have tickets.

In some cases an airline may offer to reroute your tickets to an alternate destination, especially if they have discontinued service to your ticketed destination. You are not obligated to accept such an offer, but it is preferable to accept alternate transportation than to seek a refund and buy new tickets. Obviously, an airline is extremely unlikely to discontinue service to their own hub airport, if they are still operating at all, or to offer refunds, rerouting, or endorsement of tickets to other airlines on account of events in their home country.

For a refund, you need to request a refund through the travel agency or airline from which you purchased your tickets, and wait for the refund request to be processed. This process usually takes several months, so you won’t have the refund money immediately to use to buy new tickets. Note that the face value of your tickets is typically the official “published fare”. If you bought a discounted ticket, the amount you paid, and thus your refund, may be substantially less than the official fare printed on your tickets. Note also that airlines can take up to a year to process refunds.

If the original tickets were on the cheapest airline and route, new tickets will probably cost more. For all these reasons, you are generally better off trying to get the airline to fly you on an alternate route, or to an alternate destination, or to “endorse” your ticket to another airline that still serves your desired destination, rather than submitting your tickets for refund and buying new tickets.

What if I miss a connection?

You might have to pay a change fee or an additional fare, or buy a new ticket to continue your journey, regardless of the reason you missed the connecting flight. (Yes, even if it was the airline’s fault!) See this page to learn How To Book Cheap Air Ticket Yourself

Can I get a refund for my tickets if I no longer want to use them?

You might be eligible for a refund of the airfare. You might not. Most airline tickets are now completely nonrefundable (except for the taxes, as discussed below). Check with the place from which you purchased your tickets. As long as your ticketed flights are still operating as originally scheduled, neither airlines nor travel agencies are required to waive their normal processing fees or refund penalties if you change your plans because of fear of war, terrorism, or anything else.

Most airlines’ terms and conditions require the airline to provide a full and unconditional refund — even if the ticket was otherwise completely nonrefundable — if you refuse to accept a change in the scheduled flight time — no matter how slight — after you have bought your ticket. This applies only if the schedule is changed. If the schedule remains the same, but the flight actually departs or arrives late (or early), your nonrefundable ticket remains nonrefundable. But if you present yourself to check in, and are told, “By the way, your flight is now scheduled to depart 3 minutes later than the time on your ticket”, you are entitled to say, “That’s not acceptable to me. I demand all the money I paid for this ticket back, without any airline penalty.” (If you purchased the ticket through a travel agency, you may still have to pay any penalty or refund fee charged by the travel agency, which could be substantial.) If you want to change, rather than cancel, your tickets, getting a refund is useful only if there is still time, and still seats available, to buy new tickets for less than what it would cost to change the old ones. But in many cases, particularly with completely nonchargeable tickets (which are increasingly common), refusing to accept a schedule change may be your only way to avoid a 100% penalty. If you want to do this, make sure you don’t do anything that could be construed as “acceptance” of the schedule change, such as responding, “OK”. Let them know immediately that the change is “unacceptable”. You may need to point them to the specific language in their tariff, but that should be easy, since they are required to have their tariff available for inspection at every place where tickets are sold. (If the tariff is available only in electronic form, they are also required to assist you in retrieving and searching it.)

You might be eligible for a refund (again, even if your ticket is otherwise nonrefundable) if you refuse to permit yourself or your luggage to be searched, if you refuse to “produce positive identification” on demand, or if the the airline refuses to transport you. But some airlines have begun to change their rules to prohibit refunds of nonrefundable tickets in such cases. So check the airline’s rules before you ask for a refund, or before you buy a ticket, if you aren’t sure the airline will be willing to transport you.

If you don’t actually fly, regardless of the reason and regardless of whether the fare is refundable, you should be entitled to a full refund of all the taxes included in the price of your airline ticket. Government’s in different countries have interpreted this differently. in Canada, for example, the government has required airlines to refund taxes on unused tickets, while in the USA the Department of Transportation has accepted airlines’ arguments that transportation tax is payable on the “sale” of the ticket, even if no transportation is provided. And more and more airlines fail to provide a breakdown of the taxes and surcharges included in ticket prices, so it can be hard to tell how much of what you have paid is tax, and how much is “fuel” or other “surcharges” that actually are part of the fare, and are always kept by the airline. It’s even harder to tell which of the taxes are payable on the sale and which are payable only if you actually travel, whether the airline has passed the taxes on to the government, and if so, to which government(s). The only way to find out is to submit your tickets for a refund of the taxes whenever you aren’t able to use them — even if the fare is nonrefundable. If you don’t like this situation, complain to the relevant government agencies. For Nigeria, check here

If you decide to submit your tickets for refund, these points are VERY IMPORTANT: (1) cancel your reservations before your scheduled travel date, (2) save your original physical tickets or e-ticket receipts and documentation of cancellation of your reservations, and (3) contact the airline or travel agency from which you bought your tickets for refund instructions.

W[b]ho should I contact if I need or want to make changes, or if the airline has cancelled or changed the flights I was supposed to be on?[/b]

Often it is easiest to contact the airline on which you are ticketed to fly. As long as they are still operating, they will usually take care of necessary changes for you, even if that requires “endorsing” your ticket to another airline. Well, we understand that the customer service culture of some domestic airlines in Nigeria are appalling, but the ticketed transporting airline is not necessarily the airline contractually obligated to do these things. So don’t be surprised, and don’t assume they are lying (although they might be!) if they say you have to deal with some other airline.
Each ticket, even for flights on multiple airlines, is issued by a single airline identified, somewhat confusingly, in the “issued by” box (even when the ticket is actually issued by a travel agency and not the airline itself). That “issuing” or “validating” airline may not be the one form whom you thought you were buying the ticket, may not actually be operating any of your flights, and may not even have its codeshare on any of them. But it initially gets all your money and is responsible for parceling it out to the transporting airline(s) as well as for fulfilling your contract of carriage. If the ticketed transporting airline won;t or can;t accommodate you, it’s usually the validating airline you have to deal with to make any necessary changes. If you have a set of tickets for several flights, perhaps on different airline, they may have been issued as one ticket or as several tickets, validated on the same or different airlines. The problem is that most ticket sales Web sites, including those both of airlines and of travel agencies, fail to tell you which flights will be ticketed separately or which airline (not necessarily any of the operating airlines or those whose flight numbers appear on the flights) will issue your tickets. In the USA, Department of Transportation regulations at 14 CFR 399.83 require the airline to give you an actual ticket, which would show all of this information and more, but that rule is routinely violated and has never been enforced. Always demand a ticket when you pay, not just an itinerary or confirmation showing that you have some sort of ticket(s) for certain flights. If you have an e-ticket, what you want is a complete copy, or at minimum the “passenger receipt teller”. If the airline won’t give you one, make a formal complaint and enforcement request to the Department of Transportation.

If your ticket says something like “REFUND ONLY THROUGH ISSUING AGENT” or “REF ISS AGT ONLY” in the “ENDORSEMENTS” box, you may have to request a refund through the agent form whom you purchased it, rather than through an airline office. In some cases, changes to tickets may require you to refund one or more tickets, and buy a new ticket or tickets. However, airlines often lie to passengers about their relationships with travel agencies and agents, and about the refund value of tickets. Never buy new tickets, in the expectation of being able to get a refund for your original tickets, without checking first with the agency from which you purchased your original tickets. No matter what an airline office may try to tell you, any change to tickets not requiring a refund can be made directly by the issuing airline.

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If you get infuriated by twitching smartphone addicts on planes who simply can’t wait to switch on their mobiles after landing, brace yourself.

British Airways announced today that from July 1, it will be the first airline in Europe to allow its passengers to turn on handheld electronic devices as soon as the aircraft leaves the runway.
Until now, passengers have been forced to wait until their plane has come to a complete stop and the doors were opened before they could use their iPads, Kindles, eReaders and mobile phones – though many try their luck beforehand.

But that is all set to change.BA said it has now demonstrated to the Civil Aviation Authority regulator that its customers can safely use their gadgets soon after the aeroplane has touched down.

Passengers will be alerted by an announcement from cabin crew.

The company said the move follows feedback from travellers who can’t wait to check their messages or make that vital call.

However, it is likely to be met with dismay by those passengers who looked on the airline cabin as an oasis of calm, away from the electronic intrusion of phones.

Earlier this year, BA became the first UK airline to allow customers on long-haul services to watch in-flight entertainment from the moment they board the aircraft to the time it arrives at its destination.

The company’s flight training manager, Ian Pringle, said: ‘Customers will no longer have the frustration of having to wait until their plane has arrived at the terminal building before being able to use their mobile phones and other handheld electronic devices.

BA said that the move follows feedback from travellers who can’t wait to check their messages or make that vital call

‘Now they’ll have that extra time to phone ahead for that important business meeting, check their emails, or make sure someone is there to meet them at the airport.’

The changes will apply to every BA flight landing around the world – not just in the UK and Europe.

However BA stressed: ’Customers on departing flights will still need to turn off all their handheld electronic devices when the aircraft leaves the gate, in line with current regulations.’
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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, said the Federal Government will not hesitate to defend the interest of Nigerians on consular related issues with foreign countries.

Mr. Ashiru gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja following a proposal by the U.K. to introduce a bond of 3,000 pounds (N750, 000) for intending visitors from Nigeria and five other countries. Visa applicants are expected to pay the bond, which will be returned to them if they do not overstay their visa approvals.

Responding to a question at the 2013 Ministerial Platform, Mr. Ashiru said that the U.K. government was yet to officially notify Nigeria on the proposal, scheduled to start in November.
“Really, we have received no official communication from the U.K. government,” he said.

“When we receive communication from them, we will study whatever proposal they are trying to do but I can assure all Nigerians that President Jonathan’s government will defend the interest of Nigerians by whatever means it can.’’

The minister admitted that the biggest challenge facing the present administration’s foreign policy thrust was the welfare of Nigerians abroad. He said Nigerian missions abroad had been directed to pay utmost attention to the needs of Nigerians abroad, particularly the plight of Nigerians in various prisons abroad.

Mr. Ashiru acknowledged that many Nigerians were stranded abroad in prisons and that the affected Nigerians had continued to suffer various forms of discriminations in their host countries. He said over 9000 Nigerians are currently serving prisons terms abroad, with the largest number of 752 in the UK.

“Most of the remaining prisoners are concentrated in the Asia – Pacific region and a good number of them are on death row.

“We are concluding Prisoners’ Transfer Agreement (PTA) with all those countries, such as United Kingdom, Thailand, Japan, China, Indonesia, Switzerland, South Africa, Mozambique, Angola and Hong Kong, so that we can bring home these Nigerians to complete their prison terms.

“I wish to seize this opportunity to appeal to members of different groups; the media, civil societies, religious groups, traditional rulers, etc, to join hands in the education of our youths in an enlightenment campaign against trafficking in drugs, in particular, and other social vices in general.

“This assignment should not be left alone to Governments at different levels to handle.’’
On the much-talked about reopening of Information Centres abroad, the minister appealed to the Federal Ministry of Information to ensure proper funding for the centres.

“All I will appeal is that when it starts, they must be well funded; I do not want cases where you send information officers abroad and after nine months or six months the funding will be tied.

“You must ensure proper funding and we in the ministry of foreign affairs are in favour of this move because three or four heads are better than one. We believe that the more experts we have to help with image promotion, the better for us.’’


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Visitors from Nigeria and other “high risk” countries in Asia and Africa will be forced to pay a £3,000 cash bond before they can enter United Kingdom.
From November, a pilot scheme will target visitors from seven countries who will have to pay the UK government a form of cash guarantee or deposit to deter immigration abuse. They will forfeit the £3,000 if they overstay in Britain and fail to return to their home countries by the time their visa has expired.

The controversial move by the UK home secretary, Theresa May, to introduce the Australian-style system reflects her determination to show that the Conservatives are serious about cutting immigration in the UK.

Ms May said: “This is the next step in making sure our immigration system is more selective, bringing down net migration from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands, while still welcoming the brightest and the best to Britain.”

She added: “In the long run we’re interested in a system of bonds that deters overstaying and recovers costs if a foreign national has used our public services.”

The Home Office is targeting countries which have high volumes of visitor visa applications and what it deems to be relatively high levels of fraud and abuse
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Country Nigeria
City Lagos
Department : Ticket & Reservation
Closing date 29 June 2013


Job Purpose

Successful incumbent will supervise all front desk activities to optimize all guest interactions and satisfaction whilst ensuring compliance with all Etihad ticketing policies and procedures and high standards of customer service delivery to exceed guest expectations.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities shall include but not limited to:
• Supervise the efficient operations and monitor performance of the assigned team in order to achieve revenue, yield and volume targets.
• Ensure team compliance with all EY reservation policies and procedures and standards of guest service (i.e. handling guest problems, answering telephone enquiries within 3 rings, pre-flight checks, timeliness, grooming, courtesy etc)
• Handle day-to-day problem resolution, escalating to higher levels as required.
• Assign duties, responsibilities, staff roster and leave records
• Coach, counsel and motivate the team, evaluate performance in a meaningful way that recognizes staff achievements and provide opportunities for skills enhancement (i.e. schedule training in AUH, shadowing for new joiners etc);
• Keep self and the team up to date on product, service, policies and procedures through regular team meetings ensuring communication and understanding by team members.
• Ensure all monies accounted for and TSR tallies
• Ensure ticket stocks are correctly logged, stocked, stored and all material properly stocked and displayed.
• In a state of flight disruption, ensure liaison with all involved (guests and colleagues alike) is managed in a positive manner and that revenue and guest satisfaction requirements are maintained
• Responsible for having queues, PTA issues, TODs and re-issues completed in a timely manner

Requirements

Successful candidate must have right to live and work in Nigeria.

High school graduate, Three to five years airline or travel agency experience in a reservations and ticketing role with at least two years supervisory experience. With ability to work under pressure and to short lead timesand working on own initiatives.

Training and knowledge:
• Etihad reservation system*AMADEUS* - courses in reservations and ticketing
• Airline advanced passenger tariff and pricing course
• Recognized IATA or knowledge in rules and regulation of airline restrictions
• Coaching skills
• Good written and oral English language skills
• Good PC skills include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet
• Numerate

The Individual OPERATING ENVIRONMENT: You have to:

Do Duty within standard retail opening hours; travel may be required for training; assistance at airport in support of EY ground operations team if required; unsocial hour in support of sales functions etc when required

PPLY HERE http://flynaija.org/job-alert-etihad-airways-lagos-is-recruiting/

Organisation:Qatar Airways
Job Function:Cabin Crew
Division:Cabin Crew
Employment Type:Full Time – Permanent
City:Middle East | Qatar | Doha
Last date of application:01-Jul-2013

Qatar Airways
Welcome to a world where ambitions fly high
From experienced pilots to dynamic professionals embarking on new careers, Qatar Airways is searching for talented individuals to join our award-winning team.
We take pride in our people—a dynamic and culturally diverse workforce is essential to why we are one of the finest and fastest growing airlines in the world.
We offer competitive compensation and benefit packages and Doha based employees receive a range of allowances and enjoy a tax-free income.

About Your Job:
Do you want to reach for the 5-stars?
Could you deliver excellence in everything you do?
Would you like to be a part of the Worlds 5-star Airline?
Should you be applying online now to be a part of the Qatar Airways cabin crew team?
If your answers are YES, then we want to hear from you today!

We are looking for dedicated and energetic individuals to join our multinational, award-winning team of cabin crew.
As award winning cabin crew with Qatar Airways you will based in Doha with the benefits of a tax free salary, medical insurance, fully-furnished shared accommodation with your own bedroom, career development and exclusive discounts on flights and hotels as well as much more. All of this can be available to you by applying online today!

Your duties include:
Maintaining the highest standard of personal presentation at all times you feel proud to wear the Qatar Airways uniform; while presenting yourself in a positive, approachable and professional manner. Not only will you have to work as an individual you will need to be capable of working within our multi-cultural team of Cabin Crew to ensure that all parts of the Qatar Airways product is successfully delivered whilst maintaining Qatar Airways high level of safety standards on-board the aircraft. You will demonstrate the ability to enhance our passenger’s journey from start to finish and ensure their return custom with the world’s 5-star airline.

About You:
Skills, experience and knowledge:
Being cabin crew is not just a job but a way of life. We are looking for enthusiastic, energetic individuals who have outgoing and friendly personalities as well as multi-cultural understanding and excellent communication skills to join the award winning cabin crew team.

You must be at least 21 years old and have a minimum arm reach of 212 cm, you have a high school degree or higher with fluency in written and spoken English (the ability to speak another language is an asset) and of course excellent health and fitness with the willingness to relocate to Doha, Qatar.

APPLY HERE http://flynaija.org/cabin-crew-recruitment-dubai-qatar-airways-doha/

Arriving in Bangkok for the first time, the jet lag, humidity, and traffic might knock you over. But you’re in luck, because this is one place where luxury and comfort can be easily acquired on almost any budget.

You may have flown for 23 hours if you’ve arrived from the US, but modern hotels, posh spas, and high-end food can be yours for a fraction of the price you’ve ever paid elsewhere.

New restaurants, hotels, and stores in Bangkok are springing up all the time, but here are my best tips to make you feel like a local while navigating the old, the new, and everything in between.

Arrival: Most long-haul international flights will arrive either in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Your first lesson in Thai is pronouncing it: soo-wana-poom. Easy.

After passport control there are plenty of ATMs and currency exchange booths open 24 hours a day, as well as counters to buy SIM cards for unlocked phones. The taxi stand is easy to find and fares will range from THB 350-500 (including a THB 50 airport surcharge) into the city depending on traffic. If you’re feeling adventurous you can go to the Arrivals level on the top floor and hail a cab there, which will save you the THB 50 surcharge.

You can also take the Airport Express Train to Phaya Thai station for THB 150 from 6am to midnight. It’s easy, clean, and efficient.

Taxi Tip: From the airport, make sure to tell the driver 3 important things. First, to use the meter (they’ll insist on a much higher flat fare). Second to make sure they take the “tollway” (highway). And third, tell them that you’ll pay the tolls (usually about THB 75). It’s essential to have some small notes of 20 and 50 baht for the tolls, and as tips in your hotel. Find a bank or exchange booth at the airport that can break large bills before you head into town. If you have any problem with a driver, there’s an English speaking tourist hotline number posted in every cab, and every driver knows that if you call that number, heads are gonna roll.

Orientation: Most big hotels are located along Sukhumvit, one of the city’s main transport thoroughfares. This is an area of high end hotels and expat residences. New restaurants and bars are sprouting here making the food scene a destination for travelers and locals alike. Siam Square is shopping mall heaven where you’re never at a loss for air conditioning, food courts the size of football fields, movie theaters, clean bathrooms, and public transportation. Silom is the financial district of Bangkok, yet unlike Wall Street, you’ll also find your share of late night hedonism we know everyone has heard about. Rattanakosinis the “Old Bangkok” where palaces and pagodas illustrate a colorful history. Khao San Road is the backpacker mecca of loud bars and cheap hotels, made popular in movies, with the reality being something you may only want to check off the bucket list once. And last among the most visited area for travelers is the Chao Phraya River, with Wat Arun dominating the skyline and luxury hotels affording beautiful views from top dollar suites. If you’re interested in a river cruise, you may want to hop on a local ferry which sees the same sights as the tourist boats for one tenth the cost.

Hotel Tip: Any hotel booking website will give you a plethora of options depending on which neighborhood you want to base yourself in. Those closest to a BTS or MRT stop are most convenient to save yourself sweaty walks down the “soi’s” (sidestreets) after a day of sightseeing. As Bangkok is a city of spectacular views, a high rise hotel is one of the best ways to enjoy them.

Transport: The BTS (skytrain) and MRT (subway) are the best ways to get around town. Clean, fast, and inexpensive, you can purchase single ride tickets at the machines or a stored-value Rabbit Card at the kiosk.

Taxis are easy to spot (each one is a bright color) and cheap to ride. Beware of heavy traffic, as it’s not uncommon to spend an hour in a taxi to go a few blocks during bad congestion. One smart tip is to take the BTS or MRT to the stop closest to your destination, and then take a taxi the rest of the way. It can save a lot of time and money on the meter.

Transport Tip: Use a metered taxi or BTS/MRT at night as opposed to hiring a tuk-tuk. Tuk-tuk scams are increasingly common and you may be taken for quite a “ride”.

Local Etiquette: First things first. From the moment you arrive, you’re sure to notice the customary greeting of palms pressed together in aprayer-like bow. Always return the gesture, and the higher your hands are pressed towards your face, the more respect you’ll show.

Wherever you’re headed in a taxi or by foot, have your hotel write the name in Thai in case you need to ask for directions. Most locals won’t know what you’re talking about if you ask where to find the Royal Palace or massage parlor, but they’ll always be willing to help.

Culture Tip: The Thais are very sweet gentle people, and making lots of noise, yelling, or showing aggression doesn’t fly. And despite mouth-watering street food stalls on every block, eating on the BTS or MRT is forbidden. Other than that, enjoy the warmth of the locals, they’ll be one of the best parts of your trip.
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Deported Nigerian Anthony Chinedu on Monday demanded full payment of his investments in Kenya before seven Kenyan officials and a plane held at a Lagos airport are released.

New details are emerging on how Kenyan officials who accompanied Mr Chinedu and two other Nigerians deported two weeks ago spent the night in their aircraft because they were not allowed to leave.

Mr Chinedu, speaking to Kenya’s Nation newspaper on phone from Leki Beach, Lagos, claimed: “I am the official of the government of Nigeria. The aircraft is now mine, it is waiting for me at the airport,” he said, adding: “All I want is mymoney, and without these guys being detained here, I won’t get my money. But you can rest assured they are safe, they are eating well.”

The Kenyans and a Swedish pilot — five crew and seven security and immigration officials — flew with the three Nigerians kicked out on drug trafficking claims to Lagos, but were not allowed to leave.

On Monday, one of the detained officials claimed they slept in the aircraft and ate spoilt food because they were considered illegal entrants. They contacted the High Commission when they realised the issue was getting out of hand.

“We were only allowed out in the evening the next day because embassy (Kenyan High Commission) officials had come in,” one of the officials said.

When contacted, an official at the Nigerian High Commission in Kenya said the group was currently staying at the Park View Astoria Hotel in the Ikoyi suburb of Lagos.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed said the matter was being handled, but declined to give more details.

Her Internal Coordination counterpart, Mr Joseph ole Lenku, under whose docket Immigration lies, said: These are delicate negotiations between the two countries. Until something comes out of it, we cannot give you the details. However, the government is doing everything it can.”

One of the highlights of the ceremony was the unveiling, by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, of two cenotaphs on which names of the victims are etched. The fresh twist to the crash is that no fewer than five persons whose names are on the cenotaph are living, while an equal number of the names of the dead are not listed.

How did that happen?

Checks reveal that at least five of those who originally booked the flight for the journey for some reasons, aborted their flight and transferred their tickets to some other persons. The latter perished in the crash. Incidentally, the names of the original owners of the tickets reflected on the manifest, with which all official references have continued to be made, including names on the cenotaphs. The implication of this is that the names of the living are now among the dead at the Iju-Ishaga Memorial Arcade Cenotaph in honour of the victims of Dana air crash.

Ironically, complaints are necessarily not coming from the living, whose names are on the memorial structure. They are coming from the relations of the dead whose names are missing on the cenotaph. Mr. Steve Abuyere said his mother, Madam Mariam Abuyere, died in the crash, but her name is not on the structure. He said the family got in touch with Dana airline and the company promised to get back to the family. According to him, there are four other names that were juxtaposed on the cenotaph.

He said: “What you have there (cenotaph) is Hurriya Lawal instead of Mariam Abuyere. We wrote letter to Dana airline to change the name and the executive of the airline promised to get back to the family. We complained to the State Government and the officials promised to look into it. We believed they made correction because we were officially invited for this event. They (government) sent us invitation. My mother’s name was written and changed on the cenotaph. They promised to make correction.”

Government sources said people in position are reluctant to comment on the issue because it is a legal matter. Strictly on legal bases, those who bought ticket from those who bought from the airline may not be recognised, except on compassionate ground.

It was revealed that the Lagos State government had contemplated giving the victims of the crash mass burial. The mangled bodies of some of the victims informed the decision. Besides, government feared that it might be almost impossible to recognise or identify the dead bodies as different body parts were gathered together in some cases.

But to get around that fear, government resorted to DNA test. According to a representative of one the families of the dead that met with Governor Fashola, they kicked against the decision to give mass burial to victims and the governor agreed that the bodies of the dead should be released to the family for proper burial after conducting DNA tests.

Dr. Ben Anyere, one of the representatives disclosed that the Lagos State government changed its position after a robust discussion with them and decided against mass burial. According to him, “Governor Fashola respected our wish. Contributions of the Lagos State Government included rescue effort when the crash occurred, paying for the DNA analysis, retrieval of dead bodies, provision of legal services, hosting families of the dead and building a cenotaph in a permanent memorial site. The State Government paid 100 per cent of the DNA test.”
Governor Fashola said when the State Government set out to conduct the DNA test, it had no idea of how much it would cost. However, he said the state government spent N22 million at the last count.

Fashola also spoke on what became of the three children of one of the ground victims he personally took away from the site of the crash. In a moving tone, Fashola told the story of the children who are now part of his family. He said: “On that tragic day, the Okuchukwu family who did not fly also shared the pain. The owner of the site of this memorial had his own share. But the story of that family I will share with you.

“Electricity had a part to play. A mother and a father in a building close to the site were spending time with their four children. The mother was plaiting the hair of the youngest child, a girl. They did not have power. Suddenly, electricity came and the whole community knew. Strangely, their flat did not have power.


“The father instructed the eldest child to get the local electrician to come and solve the problem so that they could iron their uniform in readiness for school on the next day, a Monday. The boy took some time returning, so the father sent his younger brother to go locate him. In pure innocence, the third child, a girl, followed her brother. As soon as they stepped out of the building, Dana flight 992 descended on their home. They became lost in the massive crowed. The eldest was eleven, followed by the nine-year and the seven- year old. Their parents and youngest sibling were consumed by a flight they did not board.
“I met them at the site on the 4th of June. Our paths have remained intertwined since then. They are doing well. They have become a lifetime commitment for my wife and I to ensure that their promise is fulfilled. Their origins are in Enugu State. But their home is Lagos, the home of all Nigerians, and this memorial will always remind us of how we met.”
Fashola gave assurance that if there is such disaster again in future, Lagos is better prepared to face such challenges because: “We cannot predict disaster, we can certainly prepare for it.”
He explained that one year ago, his government managed a very difficult situation as best as it could but the loss of so many lives has further compelled his government to examine and re examine the way to react to disasters.

He said: “The obligation to save lives and protect property imposes a greater duty; as a government, we have learnt some painful lessons and we have grown from them. We have now improved our response capacity, trained and continue to re-train our first responders, develop response protocols and acquired necessary equipment.

“We convened a disaster and emergency Management Summit for all the states in the South west at which we shared our experience and information. The entire incident is properly documented for posterity, with copies in the Attorney General’s office and the office of the governor.”
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Arik Air, West and Central Africa’s largest airline, has introduced a special promo fare to celebrate the Golden Jubilee (50 years) of His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ado Bayero, on the throne as the Emir of Kano.
The promo fare is for Lagos- Kano-Lagos and Abuja-Kano-Abuja routes.
The special fare which is valid for travel between Friday, June 14 and Sunday, June 16, 2013, would enable guests travelling on the Lagos-Kano-Lagos route to buy a return ticket at lower rate.

Announcing the special fare in Lagos on Tuesday, Arik Air’s Managing Director/Executive Vice President, Mr Chris Ndulue, said this was the airline’s special way of appreciating the contributions of the Emir of Kano to the political and socio-economic development of Nigeria.

Ndulue commented: “We in Arik Air see Kano as very strategic to our operations and this explains why the ancient city was our first destination in Northern Nigeria when we started commercial flights in 2006. His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ado Bayero, is a father figure in Nigeria and his reign has brought monumental developments to the ancient city of Kano and Nigeria in general. We identify with the Emir and the people of Kano on this special occasion of the golden jubilee anniversary.”

Arik Air serves Kano from both Lagos and Abuja daily.
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Whenever I intend to write on Hajj and Umrah related subjects on this page, I get perplexed concerning what information to pass and what to keep for some other purpose. There is this fear of being an unpaid consultant of sort to non-professionals who thought they can go into Hajj and Umrah business by just copying what serious professionals in the industry are doing.

When my company returned from a successful Summer Umrah and Saudi tour in April this year, I intended to write on our experiences in travelling with, hitherto, the largest number of contingent, mostly children, but I rescinded that decision for the above reasons.

You cannot buy experience in this industry or in any other; you have to acquire it through yearly participation in the pilgrimage, by offering decent services to Allah’s guests, persistence in fulfilling your promises to pilgrims even in the face of evident loss, hard work, etc. A sedentary visa-trafficker, a lazy plagiarist has no room in modern Hajj and Umrah service delivery industry!

Whenever you get your Umrah or Hajj visa it is marked “Free” from the Saudi Arabian Embassy or Consulate. The question that I want to address today is how free is that “free visa”?
Each Umrah company around the world has to sign contract with a Saudi Arabian Umrah operator, a company licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj to provide services to Umrah pilgrims. The ratification of this contract entails a bank guarantee of SAR100, 000 (N4, 500, 000) or, for some companies, SAR2000, 000 (N9, 000, 000).

Often times, this value of the guarantee is lost due to over stayers of the Umrah visa, people who will travel to Saudia for Umrah only to disappear into thin air or hide within Makkah until they perform Hajj; the tour operator bears the brunt. Furthermore, this guarantee attracts charges against the tour operator for the duration of its validity, for the period of one year of the Umrah season. Some banks in Nigeria will insist on issuing the guarantee in US dollars, and effect the bank charges in the same currency.

Also, the Umrah contract involves travel by the tour operator, to Saudi Arabia for physical inspection of places of accommodation for pilgrims in Makkah and Madeenah, in order to assess the distance of hotels to the Two Holy Mosques, and making payment for accommodation, transport, and, where applicable, feeding. In addition to this, the Saudi partner will charge the foreign company, (any tour operator outside Saudia), certain amount of money ranging from $100 and above for logistics in the visa process and airport meet and greet during pilgrims’ arrival at Jeddah or Madeenah international airports.

The Saudi partner actually makes e-payment of certain amount of money to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to get an online number (called MOFA number) for Umrah companies outside the Kingdom to use for final upload of visa request, through the ministry’s website, and submission to the Saudi Embassy.

To arrive at the cost of the Umrah package, which includes the visa, the tour operator has to put all the above into consideration, his own overhead and profit margin. Therefore, no Umrah visa is free. Yes, the Saudi Embassy or Consulate can stamp ‘Free’ on the visa because there is no payment attached to it in Nigeria, but a lot of money has been expended before this ‘Free’ visa was issued including what the Saudi partner paid directly to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I can say the same thing and more concerning the Hajj visa; it is only free at the embassy level as stamped on the passport.

Visa only

There is nothing like ‘visa only’ in the parlance of Hajj and Umrah operations. The phrase is a euphemism for cheating, coined by unworthy Umrah operators for their own gain, to make people pay for what they cannot use. Instead of signing for decent accommodation such operators go for the cheapest, remotest from Haram, no star apartments, where they know many pilgrims cannot stay. The same thing applies to Jeddah-Makkah-Madeenah transport. They sign for old 49 sitter buses for transporting pilgrims.

So that when a pilgrim arrives at Jeddah airport, after all the trouble he goes through during screening, stamping of passport, seizure and photocopying of the passport by the Saudi agent, etc. the pilgrim will have to wait for 48 other pilgrims whose time of arrival may be from that time until Allah knows when, before he departs for Madeenah or Makkah as the case may be. So, rather than to go through this uncertainly the pilgrim has no choice but to accept the ‘visa only’ option and forfeit the purported accommodation and transportation attached to the visa. He pays for the visa from N80, 000 to N150, 000, and even more (subject to the period of travel), secures accommodation on a separate arrangement, and arranges for his transport within Saudi Arabia.

People have now become so used to this charade of visa only arrangement that it has become the norm for Umrah pilgrimage.

Limited Visas For Umrah

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj has decided to reduce the number of Umrah pilgrims coming from outside the Kingdom during the holy month of Ramadan and allowed 14 days for such pilgrims to leave the Kingdom after performing Umrah rituals. The decision was attributed to the expansion project being implemented in the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The period of this restriction of number of pilgrims is not confined to Ramadan; it covers Hajj, hence the slashing of Hajj slots not only for Nigeria but for all countries all over the world.

This reduction means great loss to tour operators around the world who have signed contracts with their Saudi partners for rooms in proportion to the number of pilgrims they normally serve during these season. As I write this piece the visa quota to Umrah companies for pilgrims coming in the months of Sha’baan and Ramadan has been reduced from the online electronic platform where we process such visas. Prior to this reduction we could process a group of 20 and more pilgrims to get the online Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) number. Now, all agents are restricted to only 5 in a day.

Unless this is changed many families travelling in Ramadan may not be able to undertake the journey especially where they have limited number of mahrams. Each group that has female pilgrims or underage children must be attached to a mahram during the online request for MOFA number which will be used to generate the e-mofa for onward submission to, and issuance of the visa by the embassy. You cannot split a group of 10 which has one mahram, for instance; so, the law as it is now will impede the Ramadan Umrah of many families.

Moreover, not all tour operators have Umrah contract to issue visa. If your passport is with an agent who does not have licence to conduct Umrah, issue visa with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) with a valid contract from a Saudi partner and file opened with the Saudi embassy or consulate, you are on your own because at the end of the day that agent will not be able to get you the visa due to the shortage of allocation for the company he intends to use. You will not know this until when it is too late.

The validity of the visa is also restricted to only 14 days, which means your request for Umrah visa should not be made until you are ready to travel within 14 days of the issuance date of the visa, otherwise its validity will expire. Those who think they have their Umrah visa for Ramadan from now should know that they are in possession of expired travel document. In such a case, the airline may not carry you, and if you are lucky to reach Jeddah or Madeenah, you will be denied entry with an expired visa. The validity of such visas used to be 1 month; not anymore! At least until the expansion project of the Ka’bah is finished in the next 3 years.

Intending Umrah pilgrims must be careful concerning the validity of visa before travel, and the duration of your stay in Saudi Arabia after your arrival. Anyway, Umrah visa is not free.

By: Ustaz Abubakr Siddeeq Muhammad
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ogbonna chris: pls where can I get a cheap flight fare from enugu to lagos on novermber 2013

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Fastjet plc (fastjet), Africa’s lowcost airline, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigeria’s Red1AirwaysLtd(Red 1), to create a low cost airline operating within Nigeria and to destinations across Africa.

The MoU brings together fastjet’s strong brand, reputation, management experience and economies of scale and RED1’s extensive local market knowledge within Nigeria.

The airline will be branded Fastjet Nigeria. The capital required for this venture will be the responsibility of Red 1. Fastjet plc and will have a minority shareholding in fastjet Nigeria.
A commercial arrangement will exist between Red 1 and fastjet for the provision of the fastjet Brand, Operational Framework and Management Services.Fastjet will provide further details on the signing of binding contracts.

Since launching in Tanzania in November 2012, Fastjet has established itself as a provider of safe, reliable and high quality air travel in Africa; Fastjet Nigeria intends to bring this same level of service to Nigeria, the most populated country in Africa with more than 165 million people.

The Fastjet Nigeria management team will be led by Red 1, who will oversee day to day operations, while the Fastjet plc management team will bring its extensive experience and expertise of the low cost airline industry to the partnership.

Operating within Fastjet’s growing Pan-African organisation the partnership is planned to provide Fastjet Nigeria with an extensive distribution network.

Commenting on today’s news, Fastjet CEO Ed Winter said:“The combination of Fastjet’s brand and experience and Red 1’s extensive knowledge of the local aviation market and Nigerian business landscape is a perfect foundation for a great airline. The Nigerian people deserve a new airline offering great value and operating to international standards of safety and reliability.”

Red 1 CEO Dikko Nwachukwu added:“We are excited to partner with Fastjet and humbled to be working on bringing Nigeria its first true Low Cost Carrier. At Red 1 our motto is “now every1 can fly” and we aim to make air travel affordable so more Nigerians can choose to travel by air. Our experienced management team has spent 10 years fine tuning the business plan and waiting for the right opportunity to meet the increasing demand for affordable air travel in Nigeria. The time has now come to partner with Fastjet and seek to provide Nigeria with a world class low cost carrier.”
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Ethiopian Airlines has apologised to the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), following complaints of poor service delivery lodged against it by some of its passengers.

This is contained a letter signed by Mr. Endale Aschalew, The Manager of airport service, and addressed to the (CPC) Director of Surveillance and Enforcement, Mr. Shamm Kolo.

a copy of the letter, dated June 7, was made available to Newsmen in Abuja.

In the letter, the airline referred to another letter sent to it by the (CPC), dated June 3. The airline explained in the letter that the delay in the check-in process was due to a disruption of its system, occasioned by network connecting problem.

“we were trying to solve the problem with our system support staff in good time, but due to its seriousness, it took long to return the system back to normal.

“this problem contributed to the slowdown of the check-in process which resulted in the long queue of passengers.

“as you may know, the airport at Abuja is under renovation and the weighing scale at the check-in counter is not working due to the ongoing renovation process.

“the airline has provided a separate scale pending when the renovation process is finalised, and we hope this is done soon by the airport authority,’’ the letter read in part.

It would be recalled that the CPC had said in an electronic statement to media houses on June 8 that the complaints were lodged by passengers who boarded the airline’s flight ET910 on may 18, from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.
the statement was signed by Mr. Abiodun Obimuyiwa, the Council’s Deputy Director of Public Relations.
It alleged that passengers in the said flight from Abuja to Addis Ababa were shabbily treated by officials of the airline at the check-in counter.

The statement named Mrs. Dupe Atoki, the CPC Director-General and Mr. Suraj Yakubu, Former Executive Secretary of Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), and his wife, as some of the affected passengers.

Also affected, according to the statement, are Prof. Okon Uya, a former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission; Stephen Danyo of the World Bank; and Gary Offner from the U.S.

“the passengers were not only shabbily treated, but were also subjected to harrowing check-in process, faulty weighing scale and indiscriminate boarding.
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The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has held a two-day meeting with indigenous carriers on the issue concerning the process of re-certification, as the airlines would now be certified on the 2009 Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

The re-certification is a process of reassessment to ensure that all the regulations for AOC are met by the airline and new items are also added by the operators.

But the meeting, which lasted from Tuesday to Wednesday, raised other issues, including the award of AOC to two new airlines, which industry experts said should not have been done under an acting Director General.

Sources at the meeting told reporters that there were lots of complaints because NCAA awarded AOC to two airlines but at the forum NCAA denied that it had done so, as the operators argued that according to regulations, AOCs should be awarded by a substantive Director General of NCAA.

“There were a lot of complaints at the meeting because NCAA gave out AOC to two (name withheld) airlines and they knew it was wrong for them to do that now because the regulation says that AOCs are given under a substantive Director General of NCAA; not under an acting Director General. We have to follow international standards; an acting Director General should see to the day to day activities of the Authority and should not spearhead agreements or issue AOCs.”

Another operator who attended the meeting also told THISDAY that such AOCs could be contested in court and that the federal government could be sued if an airline that obtained its AOC from an acting Director General is involved in an accident.

But NCAA source told newsmen that it is not the Director General that works on AOC, and that it has five phases, which include security, the Ministry of Aviation and others.

“It is only reasonable to say that the Director General presides over the award of AOC, being in charge of the Authority but the award of AOC follows a process and it goes through five phases that include security department and the Ministry of Aviation. It is mainly done under the Director of Air Worthiness and Standards,” the NCAA source said.

The Director of Operations usually forwards the report to the Director General because he is in charge of the Flight Safety Group; the Director General would read the report and sign and then the AOC will be presented.

It was also gathered that one of the airlines that was issued AOC has been long in waiting because the airline did not provide the right aircraft but now under the Acting Director General, the approval was done so suddenly that the acting Director General, who was in Abuja, had to direct that the document should be brought to Federal Capital Territory for him to sign.

Many industry insiders frowned at this and said the award of AOC follows stringent safety and security conditions that must be met by the airline demanding for the certification, but when hurriedly done, these conditions may be skipped.
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