Chinedu Eze
Since mid last year the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has been making efforts to make more people travel by air and restore confidence in air transport despite the devastating effects of Covid-19.
To achieve this, IATA has held meetings with the International Civil Aviation Organsiation (ICAO), the Airport Council International (ACI), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other regional aviation agencies to galvanise air travel after it was literally paralysed by Covid-19 lockdown in many countries.
IATA has vigorously campaigned against impediments to air travel worldwide and has recently warned that the reliance on taxation as the solution for cutting aviation emissions in the EUâs âFit for 55â proposal is counter-productive to the goal of sustainable aviation. The body said EU policy needed to support practical emission reduction measures such as incentives for Sustainable A
Chinedu Eze
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has commended the federal government for its swift response in removing 7 per cent surcharge on imported aircraft and spares.
The Vice Chairman of AON and Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema stated this in a chat with newsmen in Lagos.
He frowned at media distortion of the proceedings of the interactive forum at the Senate recently, where he made presentation on behalf of the airlines on the challenges the operators are facing.
According to him, an online medium reported the meeting as an issue concerning Air Peace alone and brought ethnic dimension to it, which he described as highly condemnable.
Aviation industry stakeholders attribute stunted growth of the sector to policy summersaults and have called on government to review some policies that are antithetical to the development of the sector and its subsequent impact on the profitability of airlines and other businesses in the country. Chinedu Eze writes.
Airline operators and other private investors in the Nigerian aviation industry have consistently made the claim that government policies and interventions are often misdirected, especially when operators in the sector are excluded from making input into such policies. The consequence is that Nigerian airlines are not profitable, which explains the short life span of domestic carriers that survive for an average age of 10 years.
Chinedu Eze
Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA), has adopted the BAGAIA Safety Regulations 2021 to help member states in the sub-region to be compliant with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Anne 13 which deals primarily with accident investigation.
The safety regulations presented to member states in March 2021, aims to ensure that all signatories use a common set of regulations for the protection of safety data with purpose of accident investigation and not assignment of blame.
Commissioner of BAGAIA, Charles Irikefe Erhueh, said the adoption was part of some resolutions reached at the sixth Commission Meeting of the BAGAIA, which held in The Gambia, from July 12th to 14th, 2021, with theme: Strengthening BAGAIA through effective Regional Collaboration to keep the focus on solving some of those issues.
Chinedu Eze
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on states to follow the new guidelines on travel from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The guidance recommends a, “risk-based approach” to implementing measures related to COVID-19 and international travel.
It was expected to be presented to the WHO COVID-19 International Health Regulations Emergency Committee yesterday.
Specifically, WHO recommended that governments do not require proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a mandatory condition for entry or exit; remove measures such as testing and/or quarantine requirements for travelers who are fully vaccinated or have had a confirmed previous COVID-19 infection within the past six months; ensure alternative pathways for unvaccinated individuals through testing so that they are able to travel internationally.