Work Commences on Multi-storey Car Park at MMIA

Work has officially commenced on the multi-storey car park at the international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.
Spokesperson for the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)disclosed this recently adding that the car park which occupies a 9,000 square meter land area, located close to the international terminal building, is expected to accommodate 5,000 cars on completion.

"The construction of this new multi-story car park was necessitated by the need to minimise the inconvenience experienced by airport users as a result of inadequate parking space at the airport. It is also expected that the proximity of the new car park to the international terminal will make transportation easier for passengers," he said.

SAHCOL acquires additional equipment for efficient service delivery

In a bid to improve the face of ground handling in Nigeria, in line with International best practices, the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) has again taken delivery of additional Ground Support Equipment (GSE).

The equipment, manufactured by TUG, United States; Denge, United Kingdom and TBD, United Kingdom, includes Conveyor Belt Loaders and Baggage Tractors; Baggage Carts; Pallet & Container Dollies, respectively, which are already being deployed to further improve services to clients across the network. Also as part of the growing profile of the Company, SAHCOL was awarded the contracts to provide ground handling services to Max Air, Kabo Air, West Link Air, Medview Airline and Skypower Airline for the outbound and inbound of the on-going Hajj Operations.

The company currently handled seventy-five outbound flights, from Nigeria to the Saudi Arabia operated by these airlines, from Lagos, Ilorin, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Kebbi, Dustse/Yola and Portharcourt.

Delta Air Lines forecasts high revenue by end of 2014

Delta Air Lines forecasts high pre-tax revenue in excess of $4 Billion by the end of year 2014 with the announcement of $1.6 billion pre-tax income for the month of September quarter.

It's September 2014 income according to a release is an increase of $431 million over the September 2013 quarter on a similar basis. The net income for the September 2014 quarter was $1.0 billion, or $1.20 per diluted share with operating margin at 15.8 percent.

According to Richard Anderson, Delta's chief executive officer, "While we have more work ahead of us to achieve our long-term financial goals, we expect a record fourth quarter of 2014 with an operating margin of 10-12%.

“For the full year (2014), we expect a pre-tax profit in excess of $4 billion. We have the right foundation in place for an even stronger 2015, proven strategies for Delta, and 80,000 Delta employees who are the very best in the industry. With another record profit, solid margin expansion and nearly $1 billion of free cash flow, Delta's results are consistent with high-quality S&P 500 industrials," Anderson stated.

Ed Bastian, Delta’s President captures the Delta performance succinctly, “For the December quarter, the overall revenue environment remains solid, with unit revenues expected to increase by 0-2%, and we are on track to produce another quarter of good top line growth, margin expansion and free cash flow. Looking further ahead, our international network provides the largest opportunity for additional margin improvement, as we accelerate our Pacific network restructuring, recalibrate our transatlantic capacity levels, and reap the benefits of our investment in our Latin network."

These results conclude to a staggering $823 million profit so far.

Delta Air Lines have been generating a $910 million free cash flow in this September quarter, surpassing its 2013 record.

This translated into an adjustment of net debt to $7.4 billion and a return in dividends and share repurchases of $325 million to its shareholders.

FAAN DEPLOYS SHUTTLE BUS BETWEEN LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

FAAN DEPLOYS SHUTTLE BUS BETWEEN LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Transportation between the local and international terminal of Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos, recently received a boost with the deployment of four shuttle bus to ply the route.

The 30-seater shuttle buses were deployed by FAAN in partnership with Skyplus Contracts and Logistic Limited. FAAN’s General Manager Commercial, Mr. Tayo Adewakun, who unveiled the buses on September 1, 2014, at the car park of MMA’s Domestic Terminal 1, said the deployment of the vehicles was not to compete with regular car hire operators but to ease the movement of transit passengers from domestic to international terminals and vice versa.

Accompanied by other commercial staff of the Authority, Mr. Adewakun disclosed that the buses would pick passengers from DT1 and drop them at MM2 and international wing without stopping on the road. He added that the shuttle bus would not pick any passenger on the road but at DT1 and MMIA. The buses would only drop passengers at MM2.

Speaking during the launching of the shuttle bus, the Managing Director of Skyplus Contract and Logistics, Mrs Shobayo said she was motivated into partnering with FAAN because of her experience as a frequent flyer.

Shobayo noted that the deployment of the shuttle buses would bridge the gap between the local and international airport terminals, adding that getting a drop for passengers on transit was always risky. She commended FAAN’s management for the accelerated approval given to her company for the shuttle service.

25 passengers injured after South African Airways plane hits turbulence

At least 25 passengers were injured when a passenger jet travelling from South Africa to Hong Kong hit severe turbulence on Wednesday, South African Airways Spokesperson, Tlali Tlali, has confirmed.Mr. Tlali said that flight SA286, which took off from Johannesburg, encountered severe turbulence while in the Kuala Lumpur airspace.He said the crew of the flight immediately requested medical assistance for the passengers, which was arranged and ready on arrival of the aircraft in Hong Kong.Mr. Tlali said there were 165 passengers on board in addition to the 25 passengers who were injured; three crew members also needed treatment.Local Hong Kong television channels have reported that several ambulances were on the tarmac when the four-engine Airbus A340-300 touched down and several were transferred to city hospitals.There were unconfirmed reports that two of the injured were in a serious condition.Report says it is unclear at this stage whether the aircraft was damaged.

Plane Crashes into Shops in Kenya, kill four

cargo plane crashed into a commercial building in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, shortly after taking off from the city’s main airport on Wednesday and the four crew members on board were feared dead, the Kenyan Airports Authority said.KAA said on its Twitter feed that all the crew members were “feared to have perished” after the plane crashed into shops in Nairobi’s Embekasi neighborhood.Television footage showed the tail and wings of a white plane ripped in half outside a smoldering two-story building left mangled by the force of the impact. 

ripped in half outside a smoldering two-story building left mangled by the force of the impact. 

Explosion at Abuja plaza

The explosion occurred at about 4pm.——————————–An explosion has occurred at a major shopping mall, Emab Plaza, in Wuse 2, Abuja.A witness said the explosion occurred at about 4p.m.Emab Plaza is a busy shopping mall in the highbrow area of Nigeria’s capital city, on Aminu Kano Crescent.The explosion apparently occurred at the gate of the busy plaza.This is the third deadly explosion in the Nigerian capital in two months. The extremist Boko Haram sect claimed responsibility for the two explosions in April and May in Nyanya, a suburb of the capital.

At the scene of the blast in Wuse 2, more senior police officials arrive. Frank Mba, Nigeria Police spokesperson, arrives scene, promises to brief journalists in next few minutes. Asks journalists to leave cordon area.17.07At the Maitama General Hospital, officials have confirmed at least 30 bodies with three completely dismembered. The hospital is full, our reporter said. Some victims are receiving treatment outside. Our reporter counted seven victims receiving treatments outside the hospital premises.17.03Our reporter counted 11 cars completely burnt in the explosion while some others suffered various damages. Emergency officials say more ambulances are needed at Maitama District hospital "to transfer victims to other hospitals."16.54Emergency workers are still evacuating the injured and bodies to Maitama District Hospital and other hospitals.A police officer laments that the plaza made no security provisions."Nothing, they don't search cars, booths, anybody can just drive in," he said.16.50The fire service officials put out the fire at about 4:40 pm. They arrived about 23 minutes before then. Fire service and emergency officials are still searching shops to see if anyone is trapped within. Injured are still being evacuated.16.47National Emergency Management Agency say they are unable to confirm the casualty rate just yet. Sani Batti, the agency's information officer said emergency workers are still conducting search and rescue.16.44The fire has been put out. Rescue workers are now searching the shops. Witnesses say some traders are trapped in their shops.16.4016.38Soldiers block off the area. More fire service officials arrive. More ambulances too. Traders say the explosion was a car bomb at the gate of the plaza. Bodies of injured are being taken to hospitals.16.34Emergency officials are evacuating victims to the nearby Maitama District Hospital.Our reporter at the Maitama general hospital said at least six victims have been confirmed dead and taken to the morgue. She has also counted about 17 injured victims that have so far been brought in, including a white man with a broken leg.16.30Emergency officials arrived without adequate material. "Tell Joseph to come with enough dead body bags," an emergency official tells colleagues. Soldiers arrived in large numbers. Clearing the place. Traders in tears.16.25Fire Service have arrived the scene of the blast. There are frantic attempts to extinguish the burning cars. Traders in the plaza said the blast apparently went off in a car that was driving into the mall.16.23Details later