Air Peace to operate first all-female flights on July 5

Air Peace female flight and cabin crew members will on Thursday step into an arena that has been dominated by their male counterparts for almost four years running, taking full charge of the carrier’s four-sector flights on the Lagos-Abuja, Abuja-Owerri, Owerri-Abuja and Abuja-Lagos routes.

The development is coming days after Air Peace gave command to Sinmisola Ajibola, who made history as the airline’s first female captain and was decorated with her new rank by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Allen Onyema on Monday, June 25.

A statement issued by Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah said the flight was planned in honour of the carrier’s first female captain, Sinmisola Ajibola.

“Captain Sinmisola’s achievement is a testament to Air Peace’s avowed commitment to gender equality and promotion of Nigerian women in aviation as possessing the requisite skills to distinguish themselves anywhere across the globe in their chosen career,” the airline said.

Air Peace explained that although women occupy most of its top positions, “Sinmisola’s elevation is a great milestone in our effort to grow capacity for women in the cockpit.”

Sinmisola, who will be in command of the four-leg flight, will be assisted in the cockpit by Senior First Officer Quincy Owen.

The all-female crew flight scheduled to take off from the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos at 1310 hours is estimated to arrive to a water salute at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 1420 hours.

The flight will depart the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 1450 and arrive at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri to another round of water salute at 1550 hours.

After a brief event at the Owerri Airport, the flight will leave at 1620 hours for Abuja and arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 1720 hours.

The flight will finally depart the Abuja airport at 1750 hours and touch down at the Murtala Muhammed Airport at 1900 hours.

Dana clears air on malicious social media messages

The Dana Group has urged the general public to ignore two malicious broadcast messages circulating on the social media asking them not to patronise Dana Air and not to buy a "Dana "branded rice that allegedly arrived the country from Pakistan. 

Mr Kingsley Ezenwa, Communications Manager, Dana Air, gave the advice in a statement issued on Monday in Lagos. 

Ezenwa said :  "We would ordinarily not want to dignify the perpetrators and their paymasters with a response. However, we felt the need to unearth their puerile, senseless and deliberate act of peddling two false broadcast messages about a single brand in one day.

" It is either their pay master is so clueless to have advised them to circulate both messages in one day or the perpetrators decided to be overzealous

"For the records, the Dana brand has been in Nigeria for over 45 years contributing positively to the Nigerian  economy with quality products in the areas of Aviation, Steel, Manufacturing, Automobile, Banking, Real Estate, Health, and Beverage, just to mention a few."

According to him, the Dana Group being a proudly Nigerian brand committed to the growth of the economy and development of the country stopped the importation of rice in 2015.

He noted this was in line with the desires and commitment of both the outgoing and incoming administrations to grow local capacity for quality rice production in Nigeria.

Ezenwa said Dana Air on its part had been battling and navigating these mischief-makers since inception in 2008, when the airline took the industry by storm by offering pocket-friendly fares, on-time departures, world-class in-flight service and above all, safe and reliable air transport.

"The peddlers  of this baseless broadcast message  have also refused to come to terms with Dana Air’s towering status in the industry having flown over 2.7 million passengers in the last nine years of its operation and have survive even the worst operational challenges in the industry.

"We, therefore wish to reassure our teeming guests that their safety and comfort remains top-priority to us at Dana Air and our unwavering adherence to civil aviation regulations and global best practices are the reasons for our latest consecutive international recognitions. 

"We advise the perpetrators to desist from this evil act of working at cross-purposes with a conglomerate that has shown massive commitment and contributed immensely to the growth and development of our country," he said.

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.