Air Peace emerges best carrier in West Africa

Barely 16 months after launching its regional flight services, Nigeria’s leading carrier, Air Peace has proved its mettle on the West Coast of Africa, picking the Balafon Award for “Best Airline of the Year in West Africa 2018”.

The airline was presented with the award at the opening session of the 4th Accra Weizo in Accra, Ghana on Friday. Air Peace launched its first regional service to Accra on February 16, 2017.

It added Freetown (Sierra Leone), Banjul (The Gambia) and Dakar (Senegal) to its regional route network a year after on February 19.

Organiser of the 4th Accra Weizo and Publisher of ATQ News, Mr. Ikechi Uko said Air Peace emerged winner of the Balafon Award because of the efficiency it had brought to bear on its regional operations.

The Balafon Awards was instituted by ATQ News in 2009 to recognise individuals and organisations who have distinguished themselves in aviation, travel and tourism in West Africa.

“This award”, Uko said, “recognises your airline as the Best Airline of the Year in West Africa 2018 for your outstanding activities in sustaining functional and efficient operations with expansions in West Africa, thereby adding value to the aviation and travel industry as your airlines continues to thrive in becoming a dominant face across West Africa.

“With growing routes in several countries in West Africa, Air Peace Airlines is playing a significant role in not only driving the aviation, travel and tourism agenda of your organisation and country and catalysing the growth of tourism in the sub region, but also helping forge ties between countries in West Africa and Africa with a view to enhancing regional tourism.”

Speaking after receiving the award, Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager, Mr Chris Iwarah said the carrier was pleased that its intervention in fixing the challenges of air travel on the West Coast of Africa was yielding positive results.

The carrier, he said, would deepen air connectivity in West Africa by launching its Monrovia service and linking it with its Accra, Abuja and Lagos operations in the next few weeks.

He praised Uko and his team for recognising and rewarding merit. He assured members of the flying public of better air travel experience in appreciation of their continued support and loyalty to the Air Peace brand.

Air Peace crew expose alleged traffickers of 3-month-old baby on Lagos-Banjul flight

Vigilant Air Peace crew members on Monday

foiled an attempt by two women(names withheld)  to traffic  a three-month-old baby boy on the airline’s Lagos-Banjul flight.

Sources said the suspected traffickers were exposed mid-flight when the airline’s crew members noticed a baby crying inconsolably. 

Newsmen gathered that attempts by one of the suspected traffickers, who claimed to be the baby’s mother, to soothe him failed.   

When the crew members suggested to the suspected trafficker to breastfeed the baby, she declined. 

Scared that the baby’s cries were attracting attention, the woman who claimed to be his mother requested for water from the crew. 

The crew, however, noticed that the alleged mother was fumbling in giving the baby the water.

Suspicious that the baby was either stolen or being trafficked, it was gathered, the crew summoned the alleged traffickers to the back of the aircraft for questioning. 

The alleged traffickers allegedly told the crew members that the baby was a child from a surrogacy arrangement, sources said.

Dissatisfied with the alleged mother’s response, the crew notified Air Peace team at the Banjul International Airport in The Gambia of the development. 

When the flight landed in Banjul, Air Peace staff accosted the two alleged traffickers. Sources claimed that when the two women were separately questioned, they gave conflicting accounts of how they came about the baby.

Air Peace staff in Banjul, it was gathered, quickly called for the intervention of Banjul International Airport (BIA) Police Station in The Gambia and the suspected traffickers were promptly arrested.

A source alleged that medical tests conducted by security operatives in Banjul showed no relationship between the baby and the woman who claimed to be his mother.   

Another source said the two women later claimed that the baby was being taken to his father in Banjul. The alleged father, it was gathered, told security operatives that the baby was his. 

He, however, could not provide documents at the police station in Banjul to prove his claim.

Reporters gathered that security operatives in Banjul asked the father to undertake a DNA test to prove his claim. 

The alleged father told the police that the DNA test would be conducted in Nigeria, it was learnt. 

A source told newsmen that The Gambia Police rejected the alleged father’s decision to do the test in Nigeria, insisting they could not trust the medical result from the country.

Police in Banjul, reporters were told, insisted on the DNA test being conducted in The Gambia.

Reports, however, claimed the alleged mother of the baby again changed her account at the police station in Banjul. 

She allegedly claimed the baby was handed over to her by a distant relation who got pregnant for a man she could not identify.

A source, however, said the alleged traffickers had been granted bail by the police in Banjul in deference to The Gambia’s laws limiting the detention of suspects yet to be charged to court to 72 hours. 

An unidentified Gambian, it was gathered, took the suspects on bail.

A source told newsmen that the police in The Gambia were still investigating the matter to secure enough evidence to charge the suspects to court.

 The baby, another source said, had since been transferred to SOS Child Care Center in Bakothe in The Gambia for proper care pending conclusion of investigation.

It was further gathered that the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian High Commission to The Gambia are aware of the incident. 

Contacted for his comments on the development, Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah confirmed the incident. 

He, however, refrained from confirming the names of the suspects and the baby.

He insisted that the matter was already being investigated by relevant security agencies in Nigeria and The Gambia.

Iwarah pledged that the airline would cooperate with the relevant security agencies to unravel the true identity of the baby.

He said the airline and its crew would remain vigilant to ensure the safety of its guests as well as continue to assist society in exposing suspected criminal acts.  

Arik Air launches new Mobile App

Arik Air, Nigeria’s leading airline, has introduced a new mobile booking app to further boost customer experience.

The new mobile app makes booking, boarding, accessing products and services by Arik Air easy and convenient. Personalized to the customer, the app gives passengers instant access to the information they need, when they need it all the time.

This user-friendly service allows the booking of tickets up to three hours before flight departure, and can accommodate any last minute travel plans.

The features of the mobile app include: Book and pay for a flight; Manage your booking; Online check in; Access to frequent flyer program; Flight status and many other useful features.

Free to download on Google Play store and IOS App Store, the app presents consumers with an intuitive, easy-to-use interface.

Arik Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Captain Roy Ilegbodu said the airline is proud to introduce the app to our esteemed customers. He said: “This is another in the series of innovations aimed at positioning Arik Air as a truly customer friendly airline.

“We believe that this will improve customer interaction with our airline, while boosting customer experience.”

Dana Air Bags NANS’ Best CSR Company Award, Recognises CEO as Icon of Societal Development

For its passionate commitment to the society, one of Nigeria’s leading airlines Dana Air, has been recognised as the Best Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Company of the year 2017/18, by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)

The airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Jacky Hathiramani was also conferred with the Icon of Societal Development Award, for his ''leadership acumen, Giant stride in the aviation sector and Humanitarian service.''

The National Public Relations Officer of NANS, Mr Odebunmi Idowu, who made the presentation to the airline during a courtesy visit to Dana Air's Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA2) office in Lagos, said: so many companies do not understand the meaning of giving back to the society in which they operate. Most of them believe is all about the industry and profit, leaving out the society and people who keep them in business.’’

''Today, we have decided to honor one of Nigeria’s finest airlines for their outstanding service delivery in the aviation industry and most of all, their passionate commitment to giving back to the society.'' 

''We are aware of Dana Air’s discount for corp members and Nigerian students, Commitment to the fight against cancer in Nigeria, and constant support to the Nigerian entertainment industry and as patriotic Nigerians concerned about our development as a country.

"The leadership of NANs resolved in her best capacity to honour Dana Air Management into NANS Hall of fame and also present this award as Nigeria's Best CSR Company of the year, having reviewed your immense contribution to the economy and your humanitarian and community development initiatives.''

Odebunmi who described the airline’s CEO as a very humble and accommodating personality, also thanked him for his humanitarian service, and extolled his management and leadership acumen.

Receiving the award on behalf of Dana Air and its CEO, the Accountable Manager / Chief Operating Officer of the airline, Mr Obi Mbanuzuo, said it was a well-deserved award for the airline as a result of Dana Air’s commitment to its broad community development initiatives.

He thanked the airline's guests for supporting Dana Foundation to achieve a lot in terms of sponsoring worthy causes and fulfilling its social responsibility.

In 2011, as a result of Dana Air’s constant support for community development initiatives, the airline bagged two CSR awards –Most Endorsed Airline in CSR by CSR Nigeria Awards and Best CSR airline of the year by Lagos Enterprise Awards. 

The airline is reputed for its innovative online products, World Class in-flight service and unrivaled on time departures.

Aviation unions' threat to disrupt MMA2 operations lawless - Bi-Courtney

Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) on Sunday faulted the plan by aviation unions to disrupt its operations at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, (MMA 2) Lagos, following the termination of services of some members of staff.

The spokesperson for BASL, Mr Steve Omolale, who made this known in a statement described the threat by the unions as "lawlessness ".

The unions, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), had issued the threat in a recent letter to BASL. 

They had given BASL a seven day ultimatum to recall the workers who were allegedly sack for  indicating interest to belong to unions in the sector. 

However, Omolale said BASL was  taken aback by their threat to further display acts of lawlessness against the organisation.

He said it would be recalled that the two unions had been at loggerheads with Bi-Courtney following the handover of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) to the company. 

According to him  despite the handover being in accordance with the Concession Agreement executed between BASL,  the Federal Government and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the two  unions physically prevented the company from exercising its constitutional and legal right of ownership of the terminal.

Omolale said :“Subsequent to this handover, the courts have confirmed that the terminal belongs to our company.

“It is interesting to note that the two unions, NUATE and ATSSSAN, actually challenged our ownership of the terminal in court in Appeal No. CA/A/141/M/09. 

"The case was decided in our favour in the Court of Appeal on  Oct. 16 2010. Their case was dismissed for lacking any merit whatsoever.

“Sequel to this, the courts have awarded damages of N132 billion in favour of our company for the liability we suffered up to 2009. 

"As at now, the damage is in excess of N200 billion. The same unions, in continuation of their desire to sabotage the operation of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are now threatening to disrupt our operations."

He maintained that BASL would  do everything within the laws of Nigeria to enforce its right to peaceful existence and to operate its business without any interference from meddlesome interlopers.

Omolale explained that the workers who were relieved of their appointment were staff who had either attained retirement age or who were found not to be diligent in their duties, stressing that BASL had  the right to continue to improve the quality of its staff.

He said this was contrary to the unions' allegation that their service was terminated because they threatened to join a union. 

Air Peace emerges company of the year, attributes feat to customers

Nigeria's leading carrier, Air Peace has won the “Company of the Year Award 2017” of Leadership Group.

The airline received the award weeks after it was recognised as a “National Carrier of Repute” at the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Umuahia, Abia State, where six of its crew members were also honoured as “Nigerian Crew Member of Repute”.

Speaking at the Leadership 2017 Awards in Abuja on Thursday, Chairman of Leadership Group Limited, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah said Air Peace and other award recipients were selected for the honour strictly on merit.

He hailed the carrier and other awardees for making significant contributions to the economic development of the country, urging them to sustain the high standards they were reputed for.

Meanwhile, Air Peace has dedicated the award to its customers, saying their huge support and patronage had been the pillars of its success since it commenced commercial flight operations more than three years ago.

The airline assured that the award, which was received on its behalf by its Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide would spur it to deepen the quality of its flight services.

“The award from Leadership Group”, the airline said in a statement issued by its Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah, “is another proof of the high quality of our contributions to the development of Nigeria’s economy and delivery of excellent flight services."

It assured: “We are driven by our passion to reward the huge support and patronage of our esteemed guests over the years.

" We are not going to spare any effort to make the flying experience of our guests truly great and rewarding.

"Soon, we will be announcing dates for the commencement of the expansion of our route network to Asaba, Bauchi, Kaduna, Makurdi, Osubi, Nigeria Air Force Base in Port Harcourt, Monrovia, Lome, Abidjan and other West Coast destinations under the third phase of our no-city-left-behind project aimed at having many more people experience our spectacular flight services.

“There are challenges, no doubt, but we are working flat out to reduce the impact of these occurrences on the revolution we have continued to spearhead in the Nigerian aviation industry to the barest minimum.”

Air Peace said it was grateful to Leadership Group for recognising its contributions to Nigeria’s economy and rewarding excellence.

Dana Air introduces ''Cash Back'' Reward for Guests

 One of Nigeria’s leading airlines Dana Air, has introduced has introduced another customer-centric initiative designed to gift its guests with some ‘cash back’’ on every booking.

The initiative requires the airline’s guests to get a ''Thank U’’ card at its Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 sales outlet  , pay for their booking using the card, to get  a good  discount on every booking which can also be used to shop at any partner outlets.

According to the Communications Manager of Dana Air, Mr Kingsley Ezenwa, ‘’Dana Air is pleased to have again moved a notch higher towards achieving its vision  of becoming Nigeria's most customer-friendly airline with the launch of the 'thank you' initiative, which is designed to further appreciate and reward our guests for their loyalty.'' .

‘’A customer with the thank you card doesn’t need to queue to pay for booking at any of our outlets. Its just a swipe and the card is debited.

"The passenger also gets the cash back reward instantly. This means our guests get rewarded instantly for every booking. It’s just our little way of creating a seamless travel experience for our guests while still rewarding their patronage.’’

Speaking further, Kingsley said, ''we will continue to explore technology to ease booking, and exceed the travel experience of our guests. We are a creative brand with a  knack for innovation and ingenuity. 

"Our self service kiosk is also located at MMA2, where guests can choose to avoid the queue and book tickets, reschedule their flights or even pay for their booking without an interface with our agents. The kiosk is the first of its kind at the airport and created to suit the needs of our time-conscious guests.’’ 

Dana Air is one of Nigeria’s leading airlines with over 27 daily flights from Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo,and Owerri. The airline is reputed for its innovative products,  world-class in-flight service and unrivaled on-time performance