News Wings

Category: Aviation

  • Emirates Unveils an Irresistible Boarding Pass Dubai Summer Deal

    Emirates Unveils an Irresistible Boarding Pass Dubai Summer Deal

    Emirates has unveiled exclusive summer deals that will enable passengers aboard its fleets to enjoy easy access to hundreds of locations in Dubai and the UAE in addition to complimentary Dubai Marina Cruise, beginning May 1st to September 30th, and at no extra cost. By simply presenting the Emirates’ Boarding Pass, passengers will in the next five months of summer, enjoy access to the coolest deals in Dubai.   

    The Emirates Boarding Pass will, during this unique promo period, function as more than a travel document but as a Summer Pass, and serve as a valid form of identification to hundreds of retail, leisure and dining outlets, while enabling users to enjoy fantastic discounts throughout Dubai. Passengers landing in Dubai, during May, will enjoy a complimentary Dubai Marina Cruise, which gives unrivaled panoramic views of one of the city’s most iconic skylines from the Arabian Gulf.

    A statement from the Airline said pre-booking would not be required for the single-entry complimentary ticket to tour Dubai’s one-hour Marina Sightseeing Cruise. ‘The Emirates customer just has to show a valid boarding pass, either digital or paper, at the ticketing counter on the day of use as well as proof of identity. The cruise is only valid from May 01 – 31 between 10am and 4pm.’  The statement encouraged  families ‘to save and beat the summer heat at Atlantis Aquaventure or break a sweat on some of the adrenaline-pumping attractions at IMG world of Adventure.’ It also encouraged couples who would appreciate a quiet afternoon at a spa to take advantage of the offer in order to indulge themselves at the Sofitel Spa with L’Occitane or spot Arabian oryx at sunset while taking a private desert safari with Arabian Adventures.

    Other exciting deals that accompany the Pass include a city sightseeing bus tour that is eligible for discount, capturing the historic Dubai Creek on a cruise, in addition to discounts on food and beverages at any of the Rove Hotels and Accor Hotels.  Details of the offers can be found on www.emirates.com/myemiratespass.

  • Sit-In Releases Preliminary Reports on Four Aircraft Serious Incidents, Accidents

    Sit-In Releases Preliminary Reports on Four Aircraft Serious Incidents, Accidents

    The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N) has released four preliminary reports on serious incidents and accident involving aircraft owned and operated by United Nigeria Airlines Limited, Max Air, Air Peace and the Nigerian Police Air Wing.

    The preliminary reports are as follows:

    1. The Preliminary report on the Serious Incident involving the United Nigeria Airlines Embraer 145LR aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-BWW, which was climbing out of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria when a serious incident occurred at about 4,000 feet on 17th November, 2021.
      Details can be found at https://aib.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Preliminary-Report-to-5N-BWW.pdf
    3. The Preliminary report on the Serious Incident involving Max Air Boeing 737-300 aircraft, which was parked at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with nationality and registration marks 5N-DAB and was involved in an on-ground collision with Skyway Aviation Handling Co. Plc (SAHCO) lavatory service truck with fleet number 9/5 on 21st November 2021.
      Details can be found at https://aib.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Preliminary-Report-to-5N-DAB.pdf
    5. The Preliminary report on serious incident involving a Boeing 737-300 aircraft owned and operated by Air Peace Limited with nationality and registration marks 5N-BUQ, which occurred after take-off from Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Nigeria enroute Lagos on 22nd November, 202.
      Details can be found at https://aib.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Preliminary-Report_Air-Peace-5N-BUQ.pdf
    7. The preliminary report on an accident involving a Bell 429 helicopter owned and operated by Nigeria Police Air Wing with Nationality and Registration marks 5N-MDA, which occurred at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Airport, Bauchi, Nigeria on 26th January, 2022.
      Details can be found at https://aib.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Preliminary-Report-to-5N-MDA.pdf

    The reports are already on the Bureau’s website (www.aib.gov.ng).

    Preliminary reports are not the final reports as they only contain details of the initial facts, discussions and findings surrounding the occurrences; which include information gathered from witness statements, flight recorders, Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) Data, Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) data, and preliminary inspection of the accident sites and the wreckages.

    Therefore, investigations on these serious incidents and accident are still ongoing and final reports will be released at the conclusions of the respective investigations.

  • British Airways Names Finchglow Travels Best-Seller in 2021

    British Airways Names Finchglow Travels Best-Seller in 2021

    Finchglow Travels, Nigeria’s number one indigenous travel management company has recently been conferred with the awards of the Overall Best Seller in 2021 by British Airways.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Finchglow Travels, Mr. Bankole Bernard upon receiving the award said: “The most fulfilling thing about this award is that it is a testament to our commitment to excellence and delivery of quality service. We are thrilled to have further proof that Finchglow Travels is the best in this industry and it is with great pleasure that I dedicate this award to our esteemed customers, and staff who made this possible.”

    “We have worked with British Airways for close to 13 years as a trade partner and over the years, the experience has been fruitful. We look forward to doing more business with the British Airways team; we reassure our esteemed customers and trade partners of our unwavering commitment to excellence!” Mr Bernard added.

    Presenting the award, the Head of Sales, British Airways, South Asia, Middle East and Africa, Mr. Moran Birger and the Country Manager, British Airways, Mrs Adetutu Otuyalo noted that Finchglow Travels had performed excellently in 2021 and the airline looks forward to more of this in 2022. Finchglow Travels was also recently named the ‘Highest Selling Agency to  London and Best Performing Agent in Nigeria’ by British Airways.

    In other news, Mr. Bankole Bernard announced that Finchglow Travels will be expanding to Kano in May. This is in line with the company’s goal to expand across Nigeria and Africa.

    The General Manager, Sales and Operations at Finchglow Travels, Mr. Ezekiel Ikotun  added: “We are determined to reduce the burden of travel management services on travellers and this will continue to propel our expansion across different states in Nigeria and the region.”

    “Finchglow Travels has been in existence since 2006 and within that period we already have 8 offices across Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. We will continue to expand in line with our set vision. We have built a solid reputation and we have continued to soar by adopting excellence as our watchword,” Mr Ikotun added.

  • United Nigeria Airlines partners with Wakanow to deliver best-in-class booking experience to customers

    United Nigeria Airlines partners with Wakanow to deliver best-in-class booking experience to customers

    Nigeria’s fastest-growing airline, United Nigeria Airlines has integrated with Wakanow, Africa’s leading travel tech company, to provide greater value to its customers by delivering real-time inventory and flight schedules. By virtue of this partnership, Wakanow is the only online travel agency with United Nigeria’s Live Inventory bookable in real-time enabling the delivery of a seamless booking experience for Wakanow customers and United Nigeria passengers.

    Speaking during a courtesy visit to United Nigeria, Mr. Adebayo Adedeji, CEO of Wakanow, said, “We are excited to commence this partnership with United Nigeria. With the support of Wakanow, the airline will concentrate on her core mandate which is moving travelers across the country while we will ensure that travelers have the best-in-class booking experience.”

    “We have promised our customers that we are the best plug for their local and international travels. We will continue to deliver on this promise and with this partnership, we have gone a step further to delight African travelers,” he added.

    Also commenting during the visit, Mrs. Adenike Macaulay, CCO of Wakanow, noted that with this integration, Nigerians should be rest assured of a seamless booking experience for domestic flights with United Nigeria. Our expertise as an innovative travel tech company is a great value addition to the airline which will be leveraged extensively as we deepen our partnership. She said, “we will be upping the ante of the booking experience of United Nigeria airlines as a partner”.

    High Chief Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman and CEO said, “United Nigeria is glad to have Wakanow as a partner to provide this bespoke service to us in delivering best-in-class booking services. We are sure that their support for United Nigeria will aid our growth and overall success in the aviation industry.”

    Mazi Osita Okonkwo, ED/COO of United Nigeria, explained that as the airline continues to evolve and take on more destinations, the potential of the tourism sector of Nigeria will all be better known. According to him, “Wakanow has demonstrated leadership in the travel industry, and we are sure that this will impact on our airline as well and provide the travelling public access to not only its booking platform but also other services. It will complement United Nigeria’s objective of uniting cities, cultures, businesses, friends and associates through the delivery of safe and exceptional flight experiences to its customers.”

  • Lagos Aviation Academy Becomes an Amadeus Certified Training Partner in Nigeria

    Lagos Aviation Academy Becomes an Amadeus Certified Training Partner in Nigeria

    Lagos Aviation Academy, one of the fastest-growing aviation training centres in Nigeria has been certified as an Amadeus Training Partner, which gives the Academy the license to train students on how to navigate the Amadeus reservation system. The course is designed to help travel consultants learn how to make reservations on Amadeus, using graphical and cryptic commands.

    “Gaining a better understanding of travel booking platforms such as Amadeus is essential to ensure smooth operations in a profession as complex as being a Travel Consultant or a Travel Manager, especially with the variation of airline policies. This is one of the many qualifications travel agencies should have. We have so many untrained travel consultants out there and we continue to strongly advocate the importance of aviation training and professionalism. Partnering with Amadeus enables us to offer an academic solution to improve comprehension of the Amadeus system. It allows the users to be better informed and avoid unnecessary booking errors. It is an honour for us at Lagos Aviation Academy to have become a Certified Training Partner with Amadeus and currently the only one in Nigeria,” noted Bankole Bernard, Academy Director, Lagos Aviation Academy and Chairman of the Association of Aviation Training Organizations in Nigeria.

    Amadeus is at the heart of the global travel industry. With its people, its technology and its innovation, Amadeus is dedicated to working with its customers and partners to power great journeys through technology. The company provides the technology that keeps the travel sector moving – from initial search to making a booking, from pricing to ticketing, from managing reservations to check-in and departure processes. Amadeus works closely with all types of airlines, airports, rail companies, travel sellers and corporations, as well as partner companies beyond the travel industry to deliver better travel experiences for all.

    Congratulating Lagos Aviation Academy on the success of the “ Train the Trainer”  exam taken by one of the Academy’s facilitators, Gilles Molesti, Learning Partners Manager at Amadeus said: “I am delighted to inform you that Michael Ozoalor successfully passed the Amadeus Learning Partners Train The Trainer certification. This means that your school is now a Certified Partner”.

    Speaking on the benefits of the course to Travel Consultants, Chinasa Mbene, the General Manager at Lagos Aviation Academy added: “Most travel companies use Amadeus to book flights, hotels, car hire and other services. The benefits of taking this training for our students include being able to secure good jobs in the industry, learning airline and airport codes, being able to communicate in travel terms with other travel professionals and much more. The Amadeus booking system is user-friendly, reliable, fast and trusted.

    Lagos Aviation Academy is currently the only certified Amadeus Training Partner in Nigeria and this reflects the growing leadership of Lagos Aviation Academy in the industry.

  • Emirates expects travel rush and rolls out new check-in options

    Emirates expects travel rush and rolls out new check-in options

    Emirates’ Airlines  has re-assured its customers of stress-free check-in experience despite the current surge in the number of passengers expected to depart from its DXB’s Emirates Terminal 3 over the course of the next two weekends. More than 700,000 travellers are already scheduled to depart through the terminal as they head off for their spring break holidays.  With the lifting of COVID-19 related travel restrictions in 16 countries, Emirates customers will be able to swiftly check-in without the need to present COVID-19 related medical documents.

    Emirates has said that customers may check in as early as 24 hours before their flight departure using the 32 self-service bag drop machines and 16 check-in kiosks available at Terminal 3, or at Emirates’ check-in desks. Under the arrangement, passengeg rs travelling to the US can check in 12 hours before departure at Emirates’ check-in desks, while customers using the self-service kiosk will receive their boarding passes on the spot, although they are expected to still complete their immigration formalities no later than 60 minutes before their flight departure.

    Other arrangements in place to ensure customer convenience include the car park check-in facility located adjacent to the Terminal 3 car park area in Zone C. Passengers can also use the car park check-in facility from 24 hours and up to six hours prior to departure. With zero parking charges for using the drop-off lane adjacent to this facility, customers who get dropped off at Terminal 3 Departures Car Park will have an easier and more convenient check-in options to make their airport journey smoother.

    Also in place is the online check inarrangement, which gives customers the convenient option to check in online up to 48 hours and until 90 minutes before their flight departure, on the Emirates’ website or the mobile app, and download digital boarding passes on their mobile phones for select destinations.

    To further expedite their airport experience, Emirates has made it possible for its customers to utilise Emirates’ biometric path in Terminal 3 for a smoother and contactless journey from specific check-in desks, Emirates dedicated lounges and boarding gates. Without any document checks or queuing, passengers can use the biometric path for a fast and efficient process to complete their immigration formalities and board their flights.

    Apart from the travel restrictions, locator forms are also not required in some countries.  These countries include the UK, Portugal, Italy, Jordan, Mauritius, Maldives, Austria, Bahrain, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Switzerland. Travel restrictions however remain in place for other destinations.

    In addition to departures from Dubai, close to 620,000 passengers will be arriving on Emirates flights during that same period, as many make their way for their spring break holidays in Dubai, and to experience Expo 2020 before it ends on 31st March.

    Emirates advises all customers to check that they have their documents in order ahead of their flights on www.emirates.com/travelrequirements, to ensure a smooth process at check-in. It also urges passengers to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to their flight departure, and ensure they have all the required documents as mandated by their destination.

    These tips are indeed helpful as customers who check in less than 60 minutes before departure will not be accepted for travel. Once checked in, passengers are further advised to ensure they arrive to their boarding gate on time. Gates open 90 minutes before departure, boarding starts 45 minutes before the flight and gates close 20 minutes before departure. Emirates will not be able to accept passengers reporting late to the boarding gate for travel. Check-in and gate closure timings are strictly followed by Emirates to ensure flights depart on schedule and to avoid the impact on operations.

  • Emirates Skywards “Thanks a Million” is back

    Emirates Skywards “Thanks a Million” is back

    Emirates Skywards, the award-winning loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, has announced the return of its annual charity drive “Thanks a Million” – offering three lucky winners in the UAE a chance to win a share of 1 Million Skywards Miles at the world’s richest race day, Dubai World Cup.


    This year, the campaign will be run online, offering more than 1.9 million UAE-based Emirates Skywards members a chance to join the raffle.


    To enter the raffle draw, customers can donate online to the Emirates Airline Foundation  – a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the lives of children worldwide – for a chance to win big this racing season.  Winners will be announced on 28 March 2022.


    The raffle draw winner in third place will win 200,000 Skywards Miles; in the second place, 300,000 Skywards Miles; and in first place, a grand 500,000 Skywards Miles.


    Emirates Skywards members and non-members can make a cash donation directly on the website using a valid credit card. To receive the prize Skywards Miles, donors must be enrolled in the Emirates Skywards programme.


    Winners can redeem Miles for a wide range of rewards and privileges including flights on Emirates and partner airlines, flight upgrades, hotel stays, hospitality at sporting and cultural events, and money-can’t-buy experiences.


    Emirates Skywards launched “Thanks a Million” in 2001, and over the past two decades, the campaign has raised more than AED 4.9 million for various charities.The Emirates Airline Foundation provides humanitarian, philanthropic aid and services for children in need across the world.


    The Foundation currently supports 14 projects in 9 countries – helping to improve the lives of children in need around the world regardless of geographical, political or religious boundaries.


    Emirates Skywards has more than 28 million members worldwide, with the fifth largest membership base in the UAE. The loyalty programme continues to provide its members with exclusive privileges, unmatched rewards and innovative  offerings.

  • Ibom Air commence flight to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

    Ibom Air commence flight to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

    Ibom Air is set to commence scheduled flight operations to Lagos and Abuja from the Bayelsa International Airport Yenagoa, beginning from Friday 25th February 2022.

    Yenagoa is the next destination in the ongoing domestic expansion program of the Airline, in line with its quest to provide a reliable travel option for business and leisure travelers across the country.

    Meanwhile, through a special chartered flight on Tuesday 8 February conveying the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, HE Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo from Lagos to Yenagoa, the airline seized the occasion to introduce itself to Bayelsans.

    The COO of Ibom Air, Mr. George Uriesi, in providing clarity on the choice of Yenagoa, said: “we have carefully planned several route launches in 2022, beginning with Yenagoa. We are excited at the prospect of contributing to the economic development of Bayelsa State, by offering services that our passengers have come to expect and trust. We are bringing to Yenagoa our brand proposition of schedule reliability, on-time departures and excellent service, to enable business and leisure travelers to and from the state, plan their commute with greater efficiency”.

    The COO added “we want to take this opportunity to assure our passengers that as we expand our operations, they can rest assured that safety and customer satisfaction still remains at the center of Ibom Air’s operations and that we will work hard to continue to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations”.

    The airline will shortly announce the commencement of sales on its booking portal www.ibomair.com, and at the city travel center located at the Ebiis Hotels ltd, Winners Road, off Isaac Boro Express Way Etegwe, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    Ibom Air is a limited liability company, wholly owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government, with headquarters located at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo- Akwa Ibom state.

    The Airline aims to set the standard as an Airline of choice for passengers, by focusing on schedule reliability, on-time departures, and excellent service.

    Her Vision is to be a world-class, African regional airline while her Mission is to build a safe, service-focused, and profitable Airline. Her core values are Excellence, Safety, Integrity, Passion, and Innovation.

    For more information visit: www.ibomair.com or Victor Attah International Airport Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

  • Emirates returns to Nigeria from 5th February

    Emirates returns to Nigeria from 5th February

    Emirates will restart flights from Dubai to Nigeria on 5 February 2022.  The airline will operate to and from Abuja and Lagos with daily flights, providing more choice, comfort and enhanced connectivity for travellers connecting to Dubai and over 120 destinations.

    Emirates will operate to Abuja with EK 785 and 786. EK 785 will depart Dubai at 1100hrs, arriving in Abuja at 1540hrs. The return flight, EK 786 will take off from Abuja at 1900, arriving in Dubai at 0435hrs the next day.

    Emirates flight EK 783 to Lagos will depart Dubai at 1030hrs, arriving in Lagos at 1540hrs. The return flight EK 784 will depart Lagos at 1810hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0415hrs the next day. All flights can be booked on emirates.com, with OTAs and via travel agents.

    All passengers travelling from Nigeria with Dubai as their final destination require a 48 hour PCR test. Passengers must present a valid negative Covid-19 PCR test certificate with a QR code for a test conducted at an approved facility, and validity must be calculated from the time the sample was collected. Upon arrival in Dubai, passengers will undergo an additional Covid-19 PCR test and remain in self-quarantine until the results of the test are received.

    Passengers travelling from Nigeria and transiting in Dubai are required to follow the rules and requirements of their final destination.

    For more information on entry requirements for international visitors to Dubai visit: – https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/help/covid-19/dubai-travel-requirements/tourists/

     All flights can be booked on emirates.com, with OTAs and via travel agents.

    Since it safely resumed tourism activity in July 2020, Dubai remains one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, especially during the winter season. The city is open for international business and leisure visitors. From sun-soaked beaches and heritage activities to world-class hospitality and leisure facilities, Dubai offers a variety of world-class experiences. It was one of the world’s first cities to obtain the Safe Travels stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) – which endorses Dubai’s comprehensive and effective measures to ensure guest health and safety.

    Dubai is currently hosting the world for Expo 2020, until March 2022. Through the theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, Expo 2020 Dubai aims to inspire people by showcasing the best examples of collaboration, innovation and cooperation from around the world. Its programme is packed with experiences to suit all ages and interests, including a rich line-up of themed weeks, entertainment, and edutainment. Art and culture fans, as well as food and technology enthusiasts, can explore exhibits, workshops, performances, live shows and more.

    Flexibility and Assurance: Emirates continues to lead the industry with innovative products and services and recently took its customer care initiatives further with even more generous and flexible booking policies, which have been extended to 31 May 2022, Covid-19 medical travel insurance, and is helping loyal customers retain their miles and tier status.

    Health and safety: Keeping the health and wellbeing of its passengers as a top priority, Emirates has introduced a comprehensive set of safety measures at every step of the customer journey. The airline has also recently introduced contactless technology and scaled up its digital verification capabilities to provide its customers even more opportunities to utilise the IATA Travel Pass, which can now be used across 50 airports served by Emirates.

  • Accelerate Easing of Travel Restrictions….IATA tells Governments

    Accelerate Easing of Travel Restrictions….IATA tells Governments

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged governments to accelerate the relaxation of travel restrictions as COVID-19 continues to evolve from the pandemic to endemic stage. IATA called for:

    • Removing all travel barriers (including quarantine and testing) for those fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine, Enabling quarantine-free travel for non-vaccinated travelers with a negative pre-departure antigen test result.
    • Removing travel bans, and Accelerating the easing of travel restrictions in recognition that travelers pose no greater risk for COVID-19 spread than already exists in the general population.

    “With the experience of the Omicron variant, there is mounting scientific evidence and opinion opposing the targeting of travelers with restrictions and country bans to control the spread of COVID-19. The measures have not worked. Today Omicron is present in all parts of the world. That’s why travel, with very few exceptions, does not increase the risk to general populations. The billions spent testing travelers would be far more effective if allocated to vaccine distribution or strengthening health care systems,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director-General.

    Evidence 

    A recently published study by Oxera and Edge Health (i) demonstrated the extremely limited impact of travel restrictions on controlling the spread of Omicron. The study found that:

    • If the UK’s extra measures(ii)​ with respect to Omicron had been in place from the beginning of November (prior to the identification of the variant), the peak of the Omicron wave would have been delayed by just five days with 3% fewer cases. 
    • The absence of any testing measures for travelers would have seen the Omicron wave peak seven days earlier with an overall 8% increase in cases.
    • Now that Omicron is highly prevalent in the UK, if all travel testing requirements were removed there would be no impact on Omicron case numbers or hospitalizations in the UK.

    “While the study is specific to the UK, it is clear that travel restrictions in any part of the world have had little impact on the spread of COVID-19, including the Omicron variant. The UK, France and Switzerland have recognized this and are among the first to begin removing travel measures. More governments need to follow their lead. Accelerating the removal of travel restrictions will be a major step towards living with the virus,” said Walsh.

    With respect to travel bans, last week, the WHO Emergency Committee confirmed their recommendation to “Lift or ease international traffic bans as they do not provide added value and continue to contribute to the economic and social stress experienced by States. The failure of travel restrictions introduced after the detection and reporting of Omicron variant to limit international spread of Omicron demonstrates the ineffectiveness of such measures over time.” 

    What happens when COVID-19 is confirmed as endemic?

    All indications point to COVID-19 becoming an endemic condition—one that humankind now has the tools (including vaccination and therapeutics) to live and travel with, bolstered by growing population immunity.

    This aligns with the advice from public health experts to shift the policy focus from an individual’s health status towards policies focusing on population-wide protection. It is important that governments and the travel industry are well-prepared for the transition and ready to remove the burden of measures that disrupt travel.

    “The current situation of travel restrictions is a mess. There is one problem—COVID-19. But there seem to be more unique solutions to managing travel and COVID-19 than there are countries to travel to. Indeed, research from the Migration Policy Institute has counted more than 100,000 travel measures around the world that create complexity for passengers, airlines and governments to manage. We have two years of experience to guide us on a simplified and coordinated path to normal travel when COVID-19 is endemic. That normality must recognize that travelers, with very few exceptions, will present no greater risk than exists in the general population. And that’s why travelers should not be subject to any greater restrictions than are applied to the general community,” said Walsh.

    Vaccination Priorities

    Mutually recognized policies on vaccination will be critical as we approach the endemic phase. Barrier-free travel is a potent incentive for vaccination. The sustainability of this incentive must not be compromised by vaccine policies that complicate travel or divert vaccine resources from where they can do the most good. Issues to address include:
     

    • Accepted vaccines: There is no universal recognition for all vaccines on the WHO Emergency Use list. This raises a barrier to travel as people have little choice on the range of vaccines available in their country.
       
    •  Validity: There is no alignment on the length of vaccine validity. This will become a barrier to travel as eligibility for boosters is controlled by national policies. Unduly short validity periods that effectively require air passengers to get regular booster jabs to travel internationally will consume resources that could support primary vaccination in the developing world and booster doses for the most vulnerable. It is reported that the WHO’s Chief Scientist called for booster doses to be used “to protect the most vulnerable, to protect those at highest risk of severe disease and dying. Those are elderly populations, immuno-compromised people with underlying conditions, but also healthcare workers.” 
       
    • Distribution priorities: The calls of WHO and health experts for vaccine equity are not universally prioritized. Only half the states in Africa have been able to vaccinate more than 10% of their populations while many developed countries are reducing vaccination validity and considering second rounds of boosters. This creates a barrier to travel and strains testing resources in parts of the world where vaccine distribution is less advanced.

    “Urgent consideration is needed for several critical concerns regarding vaccines. While Europe is aligning around a nine-month validity period for primary vaccinations, this is not universal. And booster shot validity has not been addressed. As the first quarter of the year is key to bookings for the peak-northern summer travel season, it is important to provide certainty to potential travelers as early as possible. Governments have declared intentions to support a travel recovery. Addressing questions on vaccination validity is a key element,” said Walsh.

    Industry and Governments Finding Solutions Together

    In October, the Ministerial Declaration of the ICAO High-level Conference on COVID-19 called for “one vision for aviation recovery.” IATA followed-up by publishing From Restart to Recovery in November. It is a blueprint for reconnecting the world following key principles of simplicity, predictability and practicality. 

    “The over-reaction of many governments to Omicron proved the blueprint’s key point—the need for simple, predictable, and practical means of living with the virus that doesn’t constantly default to de-connecting the world. We have seen that targeting disproportionate measures at travelers has economic and social costs but very limited public health benefits. We must aim at a future where international travel faces no greater restriction than visiting a shop, attending a public gathering or riding the bus,” said Walsh.

     IATA Travel Pass

    The successful rollout of the IATA Travel Pass continues with a growing number of airlines already using it in daily operations to support the validation of health credentials for travel. 

    “Whatever the rules are for vaccination requirements, the industry will be able to manage them with digital solutions, the leader of which is the IATA Travel Pass. It’s a matured solution being implemented across a growing number of global networks,” said Walsh.

  • Wakanow Rewards Customers During the Maiden Edition of her Customer Appreciation Dinner

    Wakanow Rewards Customers During the Maiden Edition of her Customer Appreciation Dinner

    …transforms into a travel tech company

    It was a night of glitz and glamour as Wakanow, the largest online travel agency in Africa, rolled out the drums to celebrate and reward her teeming customers at an exclusive dinner at the 788 on the Sea Restaurant, Twin Waters, Lekki, Lagos on the 16th of December 2021. The amazing night of celebrating exceptional customers brought together customers, travel enthusiasts, and airline partners cut across the aviation industry.

     

    In his welcome address at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Bayo Adedeji, said, “This event is part of the Company’s effort to strengthen relationships with existing customers and show appreciation for their long-term partnership with Wakanow. We are grateful to all our partners and staff for making the year an eventful one. With over a decade in the industry, the company has been able to grow a set of loyal customers who have made the brand stand tall in the aviation industry.”

     

    According to him, “We want to use this opportunity to thank everyone that has come a long way with us and reaffirm our commitment to giving more value to our customers and partners. All our customers have shown commitment based on the trust they repose in our services within the travel industry. I will like to also appreciate all members of staff who have continued to delight our customers. There can be no Wakanow without you.”

     

    Mr. Adedeji said looking into the future, the company will transform into a travel-tech company that will provide technological solutions for the industry. This is another way of ensuring that customers get optimal service from us and we keep winning in the industry across the globe. We will also open new offices across the country so that we become more accessible for our customers.

     

    Customers were rewarded with various gifts at the black-tie event, some of the winners won tickets to any destination of choice, these include Opeyemi Bada won Turkish Airlines ticket; Elijah Obafemi Nakpodia won Air France KLM ticket; Omotayo Saba won Air Cote D’Ivoire ticket; Adedeji Ashiru won Lufthansa ticket; Abiodun Adegoke and Kogbe Oluwafisayomi won Kenya Airways tickets respectively.

     

    Others who were also rewarded include the highest-selling affiliate- Ifeanyi Nwankwo of Captains Travel Agency with a Business Class Ticket to anywhere in the world; top 2 customers- Adewunmi Ogunsanya and Bright Afiwerie with Business Class tickets; Philip Osadebe got an all-expense-paid trip to Egypt and Wonuola Olatunde Lamidi won a United Airlines flight ticket to the United States of America amongst many other rewards.

     

    The audience wined and dined while the award-winning artist, Chike was on the bandstand.

     

    Wakanow is an online travel agency with an extensive offline presence with over 30 travel centres across Nigeria, Ghana, and Dubai. The company meets customers’ needs across multiple touchpoints and has continued to expand its product portfolio & service offering as the company aims to become an indispensable and trusted travel companion with exciting travel deals, packages, and services that are not obtainable elsewhere.

  • NAMA Commences Implementation of Free Routing Airspace

    NAMA Commences Implementation of Free Routing Airspace

    …as Akinkuotu tasks Airlines to Embrace Technology

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has commenced the implementation of Free Routing Airspace (FRA) in keeping with its commitment to enhancing airspace efficiency and reducing operational costs to airlines.

    Giving this indication at a stakeholders’ sensitization forum which held at Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Ikeja, Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said Nigeria had earlier in October 2021 notified the global aviation community of its intent to commence the implementation of the Free Routing Airspace concept in December, 2021.

    He said “the journey to the implementation of the Free Routing Airspace in Nigeria started two years ago, following the decision and recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) AFI (African- Indian Ocean) Region that member states should develop necessary strategies towards implementation of FRA in their respective states and regions. ICAO in collaboration with International Air Transport Association (IATA) supported this push by developing the FRA concept of operations, conducting FRA gap analysis as well as providing guidance in the development of FRA implementation checklist.

    “After several meetings, workshops, and coordination among contiguous FIRs (Flight Information Regions), the FRA concept is surely transforming from an abstract idea to concrete reality and that has been largely the Nigerian experience as the nation successfully commenced FRA implementation on the 2nd of December, 2021.”

    “FRA was first conceptualized about 13 years ago in Europe, being the first region in the world to have implemented a full FRA concept beginning from 2008. However, in the entire ICAO AFI Region, Nigeria is the second country, after Mauritius to implement this globally new concept.”

    Explaining further, the NAMA boss said FRA basically accords airspace users over Kano FIR the opportunity to migrate from the conventional fixed Air Traffic Service (ATS) route network to flight plannable direct routes between a published FRA significant boundary entry point to a published FRA significant boundary exit point, thereby optimizing airspace utilization.

    He listed the benefits of FRA to airspace users to include: Savings in terms of distance covered per route segment; Savings in terms of time required to cover one route leg; Fuel savings per route leg as well as carbon emission reduction per route segment per volume of airspace.

    Capt. Akinkuotu also used the opportunity of the forum to enjoin airline operators in Nigeria to take advantage of new technologies being deployed by the agency as these would enhance their operational efficiency and also. He recalled that in the last couple of years, NAMA had deployed several next-generation tools like the Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) Approaches, Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC), Instrument Landing System (ILS) Category II and III, etc but noted that some Nigerian airlines were not taking advantage of them, stressing that NAMA would continue to strive to ensure that Nigeria has, not only safe airspace but also a profitable aviation industry.

    The Free Routing concept is associated with ICAO Aviation System Block Upgrade – ASBU modules B1-FRTO, i.e. Introduction of free routing in defined airspace, where the flight plan is not defined as segments of a published route network or track system to facilitate adherence to the user-preferred profile.

    The sensitization forum was well-attended as it attracted representatives from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), IATA, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Max Airlines, Air Peace, Emirates Airlines, United Airlines, Arik Air among others.

  • Emirates resumes services to Nigeria

    Emirates resumes services to Nigeria

    …Nigerian cities Abuja and Lagos will be served with daily flights from 5 December

    Emirates will resume its passenger operations between Dubai and Nigeria from 5 December 2021, offering customers enhanced connectivity to and through Dubai.

    The world’s largest international airline will operate to and from its Nigerian gateways with daily flights, providing travellers from Nigeria convenient access to Dubai, which remains a highly popular holiday and business destination. It’ll also enable travellers to safely connect via Dubai to the Emirates network of over 120 global destinations.

    Emirates will operate to Abuja with EK 785 and 786. EK 785 will depart Dubai at 1100hrs, arriving in Abuja at 1540hrs. The return flight, EK 786 will take off from Abuja at 1900, arriving in Dubai at 0435hrs the next day.

    Emirates flight EK 783 to Lagos will depart Dubai at 1030hrs, arriving in Lagos at 1540hrs. The return flight EK 784 will depart Lagos at 1810hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0415hrs the next day. All flights can be booked on emirates.com, with OTAs and via travel agents.

    Throughout the pandemic, Emirates has been helping its customers travel safely and confidently, implementing industry-leading health and safety measures at every point of the travel journey, helping communities reconnect faster and facilitating economic recovery.

    The airline has also been working hard to provide up-to-date, comprehensive travel information to its customers, as well as speeding up processes on the ground through digital verification for COVID-19  via the IATA Travel Pass, as well as touchless check-in and biometrics processing.

    Ensuring the safety of travellers, visitors, and the community, COVID-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound passengers arriving to Dubai, including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming from.

    Travellers coming from Nigeria must hold a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure. Additionally, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has specified designated laboratories for passengers departing Nigeria and travellers must obtain their certificate from one of the labs listed here to be accepted on the flight. Travellers coming from Nigeria will also need to take another Covid-19 PCR test on arrival at Dubai International Airport.

    Passengers flying to Nigeria have to meet the requirements of their destination.

    Dubai and Expo 2020

    Since it safely resumed tourism activity in July 2020, Dubai remains one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, especially during the winter season. The city is open for international business and leisure visitors. From sun-soaked beaches and heritage activities to world-class hospitality and leisure facilities, Dubai offers a variety of world-class experiences. It was one of the world’s first cities to obtain Safe Travels stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) – which endorses Dubai’s comprehensive and effective measures to ensure guest health and safety.

    Dubai is currently hosting the world for Expo 2020, happening between October 2021 and March 2022. Through the theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, Expo 2020 Dubai aims to inspire people by showcasing the best examples of collaboration, innovation and cooperation from around the world. Its programme is packed with experiences to suit all ages and interests, including a rich line-up of themed weeks, entertainment, and edutainment. Art and culture fans, as well as food and technology enthusiasts, can explore exhibits, workshops, performances, live shows and more.

    Flexibility and Assurance:

    Emirates continues to lead the industry with innovative products and services and recently took its customer care initiatives further with even more flexible booking policies which have been extended to 31 May 2022.

    Health and safety: Keeping the health and wellbeing of its passengers as top priority, Emirates has introduced a comprehensive set of safety measures at every step of the customer journey. The airline has also recently introduced contactless technology and scaled up its digital verification capabilities to provide its customers even more opportunities to utilise the IATA Travel Pass, which can now be used across 50 airports served by Emirates.

     

  • Normal flight operations resumes at Nigerian airports

    Normal flight operations resumes at Nigerian airports

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) hereby wishes to inform the general public that following the intervention of NAMA management, normalcy has been restored, as the Flow Control, earlier embarked upon by members of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association y,yesterday, kthe 23rd of November, 2021 has been suspended.

    The above suspension is to pave way for a follow-up meeting between NAMA management, Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the association, scheduled to hold later today.

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) hereby wishes to reassure airspace users and the general public that the Nigerian airspace remains safe for seamless and economic air travel. We also regret any inconveniences caused earlier today.

  • NAMA Announces Demise of Aniekan Inuk Effiong on Duty

    NAMA Announces Demise of Aniekan Inuk Effiong on Duty

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) hereby announces with utmost grief, the passing of Mr. Aniekan Inuk Effiong, an air traffic controller with the agency, at Abuja station, today, the 22nd of November, 2021. Until his death, late Effiong was an Assistant General Manager, Operations.

    Mr Effiong reported to duty at the Abuja Approach Radar Control (TRACON) on the 21st of November 2021 (yesterday) at 6pm without any sign of illness whatsoever. He was to close by 7am the next day (today). However, at about 4am this morning, he experienced difficulty in breathing. FAAN ambulance was called to evacuate him to the nearest medical facility. He was immediately taken to the Air Force base clinic where he died.

    Mr. Effiong was a hardworking and dedicated staff who died at the prime of his career. He will be missed by the entire NAMA community. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.