Page 25 - World Airnews Magazine February Edition 2021

AFRICA AIRLINES

LAGOS – JOHANNESBURG A GREEN BEGINNING

ROUTE OPENS By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

By Wole Oyebade

The airline has not provided any information

about the proposed launch and routes net-
igeria’s air transport is set to expe- works at the time of going press but the compa-

Nrience a revoluti on as a proposed ny has said it is on track for this year.
low-cost carrier – Green Africa Airways – is set The company continues to scale-up the man-

to commence operations. It has apparently power required for the start of operations and

reached the final stage of certification. some of the new recruited cabin crew mem-
Regulatory sources have hinted that pro- bers (Adefolabi Ogunnaike, Rosemary Uagbor,

and our capacity,” he said. capacity on the South African route when moters of the carrier are putting the finishing Afolabi Modupe, Juliana Aku, Aderounmu
Yetunde, Okere Ijeoma, Chieke Immaculate, and

He said, “The fact that Air Peace is going it repatriated over 600 Nigerians for free, touches to secure the Air Operator’s Certificate

igerian carrier, Air Peace airlines, there is certainly going to improve the bilat- during the 2019 xenophobic crisis. (AOC) from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Abimbola Segun) were also recently sent for

Nhas re-established air connecti vi- eral trade relations. The trade is no longer The commercial flight, which departed (NCAA), a mandatory regulatory prerequisite type-rating training.

ty between Nigeria and South Africa, oper- going to be one-sided. Trade and movement Lagos at 2 am had a fairly large turnout of before any scheduled carrier could take off. According to a NCAA source “the airline is

ating its maiden direct commercial flight on can now be better facilitated directly and passengers and arrived at the OR Tambo Sources hinted that commencement of flight serious. They mean business and could start

soon, as they are close to acquiring the Air

the Lagos-Johannesburg route. in six hours, rather than having to travel International Airport, Johannesburg, to the operations by Green Africa Airways promises to Operator’s Certificate (AOC).”

reshape the aviation industry with its state-of-

The services, already dubbed as a around Africa connecting multiple flights. traditional water salute. the-art aircraft. Last year the Director-General of NCAA said

strategic entry into the route erstwhile We look forward to giving this convenience The chief operating officer of the airline, the country could witness four more airlines
dominated by Arik Air and defunct South and comfort even at a greater height. Toyin Olajide, said the plan was to have Despite the ongoing pandemic, industry an- in 2021.

African Airways (SAA), will boost trade ties “Six years ago when we started, we daily flights on the route, but beginning alysts agree that the long-term potential in the Green Africa has given out 24 free tickets

aviation market remains vibrant.
between Nigeria and South Africa, and con- promised Nigerians that we were not only with the current schedule of twice-weekly during the December 2020 promotion tagged

nect west and southern regions in about going to connect cities in Nigeria but would flights - Thursdays and Sundays. Experts said the right business model, fleet,

six-hour travel time. connect the country with the rest of the Olajide on arrival in South Africa de- and value proposition will allow new entrants “This the season to gift.”

As an achievement for the airline in its world. And gradually, we are getting there.” scribed the operation as a huge achieve- to capture the attractive market opportunities. Before COVID-19 was declared a global

sixth year of operations, the inaugural flight He said the route is largely vacant with ment for the airline and Nigeria as a whole, Last October, Green Africa formed a stra- pandemic, Green Africa ordered fifty A220-

on Boeing 777 aircraft was dispatched with the redundancy of SAA and Air Peace rec- especially at these difficult times. tegic partnership with First City Monument 300s from Airbus and committed to leasing

a toast at the Murtala Muhammed Inter- ognises that there would be other inter- “It is not just Air Peace coming to South Bank (FCMB), which yielded (US) $31 million in an additional three of the aircraft types from

national Airport (MMIA), Lagos. It was the ested competitors on the route, “but our Africa, but our airline uniting the two coun- a combination of standby letter of credit and leasing company, GTLK Europe. This was in

February 2020.

second international route of Air Peace af- pragmatic strategy and business plan will tries, deepening trade relations and creating rolling working capital.

ter Lagos-Dubai services opened last year. help us sustain the tempo.” new jobs. To do this, Air Peace needed more Green Africa is owned by Babawande Afolabi. Green Africa is anchored by a group of
Chairman of the airline, Allen Onyema, “We have been following our business manpower both in Nigeria and South Africa. Its leadership team includes two well-experi- senior industry leaders led by Tom Horton,

said it was another milestone for the carri- plan since 2014 meticulously. Everything we Those are new jobs that we have just cre- enced leaders in the global aviation industry, former Chairman & CEO of American Airlines,
Wale Adeosun, Founder & CEO of Kuramo

er, especially coming at a downtime period said we would do then, by the grace of God, ated. The more we expand, the greater the Neil Mills - president/chief operating officer and

in global aviation. we have been able to achieve. We believe opportunities for service providers. Kiran Koteshwar - chief financial officer. Capital, William Shaw, CEO of InterJet, Virasb

Vahidi, former CCO of American Airlines and

Onyema said though preparations for that we can do more with strategic planning. “So, coming to South Africa is a big The planned unveiling of its crew uniform Gbenga Oyebode, Founder & Chairman of

the route had been long in coming and So, the era of saying that Nigerian airlines development in the right direction. South tagged “The Runway” is expected soon. Aluko & Oyebode. Q

earlier launch attempt was scuttled by the are pushover is gone forever. All we need is Africans can see Nigerian indigenous carri- In December last year the airline sent its

COVID-19 lockdown. the enabling environment to perform and ers bring much love to them, as nationals pilots on a type-rating training.

“We have remained committed to serving I assure you that we will perform far more travel both ways. That can only mean They include: Folu Oladipo, chief pilot; Victor Article shortened courtesy: https://

Nigerian interest, and this seeing the light than your expectations,” Onyema said. more unity between the two countries,” Yem, John Ayerume, Stephen Okereke, Ladi thenationonlineng.net/new-nigerian-

of the day is a demonstration of courage Air Peace had earlier demonstrated its Olajide said. Q Ogun, and Israel Eloho. airline-to-begin-operations/
World Airnews | February 2021 World Airnews | February 2021
— 22 — — 23 —