Is interesting that Aero which seem to have a sound business strategy and bring in aircraft when it has researched routes and yields, has just opened a new route to Gabon. It seems the exact opposite of arik - slow and steady, but every aircraft working from the moment it arrives, which is probably why Aero is making profit and have a good name with passengers such as me. Today's Daily Trust says:
Aerocontractors Airline has increased its international routes to seven within a week, as it begins operations to Central African city of Libreville in Gabon on Saturday.
The Managing Director of the airline, Mr. Koen Neven said 'the need to fill a yawning gap in the transportation requirement in the Central African zone prompted the operation of flights to Libreville, Gabon.'
Mr. Neven who was represented at the inaugural flight by the Marketing Manager of the airline, Mr. Theodore Chikelu noted that 'Libreville is like a hub in the Central Africa where passengers can connect different parts of the world, especially West Africa.
'It is very important to us when we recognize that we have already been granted the approval by our government to operate to Congo-Kinshasa, Windhoek, and down to Luanda.
'Libreville therefore is like a concentration for passengers to move to West Africa, North Africa and even connect Europe and America from Lagos, Nigeria,' he stated.
According to him, 'we shall be operating two frequencies for now every Tuesday and Saturday, with a plan to increasing it as soon as possible.'
Also speaking at the inaugural flight, the General Sales Agent for Aero in Libreville, Mr. Amoua Adamu said 'many Nigerians in Gabon are glad with the coming of Aero to Libreville. It will afford them the opportunity of easily doing their business between Nigeria and Gabon and at the same time travelling home for visits.
'They all knew about the airline in while in Nigeria and are proud that one of the well recommended airlines from their country is now operating to Libreville,' he added.
Aero recently commenced operation to Monrovia, Liberia, adding to other international routes operated which include Accra, Ghana; Abidjan, Cote D' Voire; Bamako, Mali; Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; and Sao Tome.
I wonder if they have thoughts of starting intercontinental flights? Is good they know that it is best to walk before running.
It will be interesting to an outside observer like me to also see if this story from BBC will have any outcomes with any local business:
The Nigerian president has ordered an investigation into alleged links between government officials in the Niger Delta and violent criminal gangs.
Rivers State officials - including the Deputy Governor - are accused of being secretly in control of the gangs. Turf wars between rival gangs in the state capital, Port Harcourt, last month left around 40 people dead. The city has been under night curfew since 17 August and last week the army sent in troops and helicopter gunships.
Leaders of the Delta's ethnic Ijaw residents met President Yar'Adua to spell out their complaints about the links between the gangs, or "cults", and named senior politicians. The president asked them to fully document their allegations and promised that corrupt officials would be brought to justice.
On his election in April, President Yar'Adua promised to tackle escalating crime in the Delta. The army operation launched last week is seen as part of a new policy to crush the region's powerful armed gangs and impose law and order.
Yar'Adua was elected on a pledge to bring corrupt officials to justice but civil rights activists say it is an open secret that politicians and gangs have had a long, close relationship, with politicians paying the criminals to rig elections and intimidate opponents. They say if the government is serious about destroying the gangs, it will also have to go after their political sponsors - and that could prove an embarassment to the ruling party.
Reality is what reality turns out to be. The truth does not always come out, but the next few years is going to be intersting to see which companies will still be there in Nigeria. I have my money with Bellview, VN and Aero staying the course, but have often lost money on bets in the past
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