Hani
27th Jan 2002, 11:47
Could anyone, perhaps from Emirates, comment on this?
Emirates May Take Over Airways' International Flights In June
BY CHUKWUMA NWOKOH
MORE facts have emerged on how Toulouse-based Airbus Industries and its partner, Emirates, an airline owned by the United Arab Emirates, got involved with the Air Nigeria project.
The Federal Government is planning to split Nigeria Airways into two entities-- Air Nigeria which will operate international routes and the rump Nigeria Airways which will have to contend with domestic/regional and continental routes.
It was learnt that Emirates was about to cancel its order with Airbus for aircraft following the September 11 terrorist attack on America which saw passenger traffic plunge. But the aircraft manufacturer advised the Gulf-based airline not do so as it could find use for the aircraft by approaching the Nigerian government.
The idea was then sold to the Federal Government that Airbus could in partnership with Emirates run some lucrative international routes with the aircraft. This development prompted officials of the Presidency to revive the idea of Air Nigeria.
Air Nigeria was the pet project of the Technical Committee on Privatisation and Commercialization which metamorphosed into the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). The idea was abandoned following the political impasse occasioned by the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Airbus is interested in operating Nigeria Airways' five most lucrative routes - London, New York, Jeddah, Dubai and Johannesburg. The partners envisage to run Air Nigeria for 12 year in the first instance. The France-based aircraft manufacturer will provide four aircraft while Emirates runs the Nigerian airline.
It was learnt that BPE is ill-at-ease with the revival of Air Nigeria. The agency is opposed to the project as it does not know how it fits into government's mandate that it privatise Nigeria Airways through a foreign core investor. Also, officials of the ministry of aviation are lukewarm to the project.
BPE has made its views known to President Olusegun Obasanjo who has spurned their position. The agency argued that the terms offered to Airbus are too generous and if the government is obsessed with that option, it should invite proposals from rival aircraft manufacturer, Seattle-based Boeing, and other interested foreign airlines. The privatization body is also concerned that Airbus is not an airline but aircraft manufacturer.
Following the president's insistence on the project going ahead, BPE met with officials of Airbus early this month and told them that they would only discuss with Emirates. The Gulf-based airline was asked to bring its business plan.
Penultimate week, BPE met with officials of Emirates and it was gathered that the airline might start with operating the New York route in June.
Sources explained that Nigeria Airways has been advised to renew its joint venture on the New York route with South Africa Airways for only a season--its renewal comes up in February. At the expiry of the renewal, Emirates would take over the New York operations.
Guardian Server 1a :7Sunday:Text:Emirates P3 27/01 Irabor
Emirates May Take Over Airways' International Flights In June
BY CHUKWUMA NWOKOH
MORE facts have emerged on how Toulouse-based Airbus Industries and its partner, Emirates, an airline owned by the United Arab Emirates, got involved with the Air Nigeria project.
The Federal Government is planning to split Nigeria Airways into two entities-- Air Nigeria which will operate international routes and the rump Nigeria Airways which will have to contend with domestic/regional and continental routes.
It was learnt that Emirates was about to cancel its order with Airbus for aircraft following the September 11 terrorist attack on America which saw passenger traffic plunge. But the aircraft manufacturer advised the Gulf-based airline not do so as it could find use for the aircraft by approaching the Nigerian government.
The idea was then sold to the Federal Government that Airbus could in partnership with Emirates run some lucrative international routes with the aircraft. This development prompted officials of the Presidency to revive the idea of Air Nigeria.
Air Nigeria was the pet project of the Technical Committee on Privatisation and Commercialization which metamorphosed into the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). The idea was abandoned following the political impasse occasioned by the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Airbus is interested in operating Nigeria Airways' five most lucrative routes - London, New York, Jeddah, Dubai and Johannesburg. The partners envisage to run Air Nigeria for 12 year in the first instance. The France-based aircraft manufacturer will provide four aircraft while Emirates runs the Nigerian airline.
It was learnt that BPE is ill-at-ease with the revival of Air Nigeria. The agency is opposed to the project as it does not know how it fits into government's mandate that it privatise Nigeria Airways through a foreign core investor. Also, officials of the ministry of aviation are lukewarm to the project.
BPE has made its views known to President Olusegun Obasanjo who has spurned their position. The agency argued that the terms offered to Airbus are too generous and if the government is obsessed with that option, it should invite proposals from rival aircraft manufacturer, Seattle-based Boeing, and other interested foreign airlines. The privatization body is also concerned that Airbus is not an airline but aircraft manufacturer.
Following the president's insistence on the project going ahead, BPE met with officials of Airbus early this month and told them that they would only discuss with Emirates. The Gulf-based airline was asked to bring its business plan.
Penultimate week, BPE met with officials of Emirates and it was gathered that the airline might start with operating the New York route in June.
Sources explained that Nigeria Airways has been advised to renew its joint venture on the New York route with South Africa Airways for only a season--its renewal comes up in February. At the expiry of the renewal, Emirates would take over the New York operations.
Guardian Server 1a :7Sunday:Text:Emirates P3 27/01 Irabor