Aviation

Dana Air Loses N18bn To Grounding

Published

13 years ago

November 15, 2013

Dana Air Management
says it has lost about $25 million (about N18 billion) revenue since its operation was grounded on October 5, 2013, by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
This was disclosed in a statement by the airline’s Head of Communications Mr Tony Usidamen, who hinted that the airline’s financial report for 2012 showed that the airline, which is Nigeria’s third largest carrier with a fleet of seven aircraft carrier with N14 billion last year had so far lost about N4 billion in revenue in 2013 due to the suspension of its services.
Usideamen said since the airline’s inaugural flight on November 10, 2008, Dana Air had completed 21, 915 flights carrying about 18 million passengers with an on time performance of about 90 per cent.
In a fresh appeal letter to the Minister of Aviation Ms Stella Oduah, Usidamen lamented that since NCAA directed the management of Dana Air to immediately suspend its flight operations to allow for an operational audit, nothing had been done.
He said as a result of the indefinite suspension an with no clear direction from the NCAA as to how the audit process would proceed, the airline directed its Nigerian and expatriate staff to proceed on compulsory leave without pay, with a promise to recall members of staff as soon as the audit was completed.
Usidamen said it was the uncertainty occasioned by the alleged inaction of the NCAA regarding the audit three weeks that about 540 directly employed members of staff of Dana Air wrote an open letter to NCAA on October 31, this year, pleading with it to commence the audit.
Reacting to Dana Air’s statement, the General Manager, Public Affairs of NCAA, Mr Fan Ndubuoke, said the airline’s operations was grounded for safety and technical reasons, noting that the aircraft in the fleet of the airline had recorded unusual number of engine failures which has not been experienced in the past by scheduled operation aircraft in the country.
Mr Ndubuoke said it was engine failure that caused the crash of last year which killed 153 people on board, stressing that the airline should stop appealing to emotions and face the reality which was in order to avoid the loss of human lives in air accident.
He said the external audit team was expected to arrive the country soon to ascertain whether the airline would continue operation or it would be grounded until it changed its fleet.
“The external auditors will arrive this weekend. NCAA can do the audit but Dana has been having engine snags and after the crash they were audited but they continued to have the problem, that is why NCAA decided to secure the services of external auditors”, Ndubuoke declared.

Aviation

Togo Govt Scraps It’s Visa Requirements For All African Countries

Published

3 weeks ago

May 27, 2026

The Tide

The Togolese government has scrapped visa requirements for nationals of all African countries, effective May 18, 2026, meaning Nigerians with valid passports can now enter the country without applying for visa in advance.

African travellers can now stay in Togo visa-free for up to 30 days counting from May 18, 2026.

Visitors must still complete an online pre-arrival registration before entering the country.

The announcement came via the official X handle of Togo’s Ministry of Security, signed by the ministry’s head, Colonel Calixte Batossie Madjoulba.

Under the new policy, eligible African travellers can stay in Togo for up to 30 days without a visa, with the government describing the move as a commitment to Pan-African ideals and regional integration.

Government based the decision within a wider Pan-African agenda, stating that it reaffirms Togo’s attachment to “Pan-African ideals, continental solidarity, and community and African commitments, relating to mobility and regional integration.”

Togo also positioned the move as part of an agenda of “openness, modernisation, and attractiveness” aimed at making the country “a regional hub for services, business, culture, and human exchanges at the heart of Africa.”

There is, however, one step travellers cannot skip. Before arrival, visitors must register on the Togolese government’s official travel portal at voyage.gouv.tg at least 24 hours before reaching the border.

Nigerians can now travel to Togo without applying for a visa in advance.

The registration generates a travel slip that must be presented at entry points across land, air, and sea. The government has been clear that this pre-arrival formality remains mandatory regardless of the visa exemption.

Beyond the registration requirement, standard entry conditions still apply. Security checks, immigration screening, and public health requirements remain in place, and the waiver does not protect travellers who overstay or enter irregularly.

All border agencies have been directed to implement the new policy immediately.

Togo’s decision is part of a broader continental shift. Across Africa, more governments are moving to ease intra-African travel in alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area’s vision of freer movement of people and goods.

Togo is now among the more accessible West African destinations for Nigerian travellers, a short trip that previously required advance visa processing and now requires nothing more than a passport and a quick online registration the day before you fly.

Aviation

Egypt Flight Moves To Prevent Explosion —- Diverts London Flight To Rome

Published

3 weeks ago

May 27, 2026

The Tide

An EasyJet flight from Egypt to London was diverted to Rome after a passenger was found with a power bank in checked luggage.

The airline said the diversion was made as a safety precaution due to regulations surrounding lithium-ion batteries.

Passengers landed safely in Rome and were provided accommodation and refreshments after the delay.

The aircraft, operating flight EZY2618 from Hurghada to London Luton, made an unscheduled landing at Rome Fiumicino Airport last Tuesday evening as a precautionary safety measure.

According to the airline, the decision to divert was taken after a passenger informed cabin crew that the portable charger was inside luggage stored in the aircraft’s hold.

Although no fire or malfunction was reported, lithium-ion batteries found in power banks are considered a significant safety risk on aircraft due to the possibility of overheating or catching fire.

Flight tracking data showed the plane cruising at approximately 36,000 feet over the Adriatic Sea before suddenly changing course and heading towards Rome, where it landed safely about 20 minutes later.

Passengers reportedly disembarked without incident, while the flight was rescheduled for the following day.

In a statement, EasyJet apologised for the disruption and said the diversion was carried out in accordance with aviation safety regulations.

“The safety of passengers and crew is our highest priority,” the airline said, adding that hotel accommodation, meals, and refreshments were provided for affected travellers.

“EasyJet’s policies state that power banks are only permitted in cabin baggage and must not be stored in checked luggage.

The airline also prohibits passengers from using power banks to charge devices during flights.

The incident comes as airlines around the world continue tightening restrictions on portable chargers and lithium battery devices amid growing concerns over onboard fire hazards linked to overheating batteries.

Aviation

Delta At 20: Delta Airline Expands Travel Access Ahead 2026 World Cup

Published

3 weeks ago

May 27, 2026

The Tide

Delta Air Lines has announced a range of travel solutions aimed at easing the journey for Ghanaian football fans planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States and North America.

The announcement was made during an event in Accra marking the airline’s 20th anniversary in Ghana, as company officials highlighted plans to work closely with local travel agencies to ensure that fans can access tickets and travel packages well in advance for the global tournament.

According to Delta’s Managing Director for International and Specialty Sales, Rob LeBel, the airline is introducing flexible options tailored to different travel needs.

These include individual ticket purchases, discounted group packages for parties of ten or more, and charter services for larger groups.

He explained that the collaboration with travel agencies would also focus on educating customers about the best ways to secure flights during the expected surge in demand.

To expand travel routes, Delta is leveraging its partnership with European carrier KLM, offering passengers alternative connections through Europe when direct routes are fully booked.

The airline believes the upcoming tournament presents a major opportunity to strengthen travel ties between Ghana and North America, particularly as interest among football fans continues to grow.