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Tag: Air Peace

  • FG intervenes as Air Peace considers recalling sacked pilots

    FG intervenes as Air Peace considers recalling sacked pilots

    The Federal Government on Tuesday intervened in the brewing controversy following the sack of over 70 pilots by the Air Peace Management last week.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had also earlier urged the management of Turkish Air, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters to reinstate all the sacked workers within two weeks.

    According to reports, the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika had earlier called an intervention meeting between the airline’s management and the leadership of the National Association of Airline Pilots and Engineers. Both parties were said to have settled their grievances with Air Peace pledging to recall some of the sacked pilots.

    The spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, confirmed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He said a verbal agreement was reached as the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, acceded to the minister’s appeal for the recall of the maximum number of pilots that the airline could accommodate without going under.

    The statement, titled ‘Air Peace to recall some sacked pilots as Sirika intervenes’ said the pilot’s association, led by its Chairman, Galadima Abednego, agreed that some missteps could have been made in the course of the standoff between the airline and the union.

    It said the association appealed to the minister to intervene in order to resolve the impasse.

    Abednego stated that as a union, it was a painful thing to see a large number of their members thrown into the labour market as he appealed to employers of labour to see the union members as partners and not adversaries.

    On his part, Onyema expressed his sadness and disappointment over what he called the ingratitude of some of the airline’s pilots despite everything done to make them comfortable on their jobs.

    He recalled how Air Peace had trained over 80 pilots and an equal number of aircraft engineers, giving its staff the best remuneration package within the sector only for them to disappoint at a time their understanding was needed.

    The Air Peace boss, however, commended Sirika for providing the required leadership to the industry and promised his full cooperation in ensuring the growth of the aviation sector in Nigeria.

    Sirika, in his remark, called for the understanding of everyone, especially the labour unions as regards the prevailing situation in the aviation industry.

    He said it was not time for unnecessary upheavals.

    He commended Onyema for his contributions in developing the industry.

    “The minister appealed to him to recall the maximum number of the sacked pilots that the airline can comfortably accommodate in the prevailing circumstances to which the airline operator agreed,” the statement added.

    Sirika called on all stakeholders in the aviation industry to put all hands on deck in ensuring a rapid recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Mass sack: NLC wades in, gives Air Peace, Bristow two-week ultimatum to recall pilots

    Mass sack: NLC wades in, gives Air Peace, Bristow two-week ultimatum to recall pilots

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the management of Turkish Air, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters to reinstate all the sacked workers within two weeks.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja, while condemning the recent sack of 100 Pilots by Air Peace, 69 Pilots by Bristow Helicopters.

    Wabba said that the Congress also rejected sack of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) executives working with the Turkish Air.

    “We call on the management of Turkish Air, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters to reinstate all the sacked workers within two weeks.

    “As agreed between labour and Employers’ Association, social dialogue should be used to resolve industrial concerns instead of the current resort to unilateralism.

    “We will not hesitate to mobilise the weight of the entire Nigerian workforce to the premises of Turkish Air, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters if our demands are not met,” he said.

    The NLC President said that the sack was traumatic for workers who were still reeling from psychological and socio-economic difficulties imposed by the recent lockdown measures.

    He said that the sack of Air Turkish, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters workers was “highly insensitive, callous, and unjust’’.

    Waba said that the unilateral sack of executive members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) working with Turkish Airline was particularly distressing.

    “These workers were sacked for fighting for the rights of Nigerian workers in Turkish Air. This is very reprehensible.

    “We wish to remind Turkish Air that unionised workers cannot be punished or sacked for participating in trade union activities.

    “This action is aimed at frustrating unionisation in Turkish Air and to enslave Nigerians working with Turkish Air,” he said.

    According to him, the anti-labour practices in Turkish Air constitute fundamental infractions on the Constitution and labour laws and also a gross disrespect to Nigeria.

    He said that Section 40 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of association including the right to join and participate in the activities of trade unions.

    “Furthermore Section 12 sub section 14 of Nigeria’s Trade Union (Amendment) Act 2005 provides for voluntary membership of trade unions.

    “It also stipulates that no worker should be victimised for joining a trade union or participating in the activities of a trade union.

    “We posit that the sack of NUATE executives working with Turkish Air violates their human and trade union rights,” he said.

    Wabba however, said that it was unfortunate that the management of Air Peace had exploited the atmosphere of industrial tyranny in the company.

    “This had forbidden workers from joining trade unions to strike the fatal blow on the livelihood and career of the sacked workers,” NLC leader said.

    He warned that the absence of unions in Air Peace would not stop NLC from fighting for the rights of the sacked workers.

    Wabba said that the congress would fight for the reinstatement of the sacked workers and for workers’ unionisation in Air Peace.

    “We deplore the offering of poor workers as the sacrificial lambs by unscrupulous business owners.

    “During the good times, workers were the hands that created the profit and wealth. During bad times, we expect businesses to repay the faith and commitment of the workforce.

    “As was done to the financial sector, we urge government to immediately release palliative support to the aviation industry.

    “Clearly, we have a bumpy road ahead of us as the nation and the world recovers from the fallout of COVID-19,’’ he said.

    The NLC president said that workers were ready to play their part towards the restoration of full productivity and industrial normalcy.

    He said that this would only be achieved in an atmosphere of mutual respect and sensitivity.

    “We also call on all workers to understand that these are dreary times. Workers must take the issue of the defense of their rights seriously.

    “Workers should insist on their rights to join unions. This is a safety valve. No employer is allowed by our laws to intimidate workers out of their constitutionally guaranteed rights to join trade unions,’’ Wabba said.

  • Pilots, engineers threaten to shut down aviation sector over mass sack

    Pilots, engineers threaten to shut down aviation sector over mass sack

    The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), on Wednesday, threatened to shut down the aviation sector following the sack of dozens of its members.

    It issued a two-week ultimatum to airlines, who have sacked or plan to sack their pilots and engineers, to rescind the decision, warning that they could no longer guarantee safety.

    TheNewsGur (TNG) had earlier reported that Air Peace, Nigeria’s biggest carrier, and Bristow Helicopters – operating in the oil and gas sector – had sacked over 100 pilots and engineers citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The pilots and engineers in the two organisations had earlier rejected pay cut, prompting the managements to take a drastic decision to sack them.

    Addressing a press conference in Lagos, President of NAAPE, Comrade Abednego Galadima, declared that the body had resolved to withdraw services of pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers across all airlines.

    He called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to, as a matter of urgency, prevail on these airlines to stop what he called “the unilateral sacking of pilots and engineers.”

    The association demanded that Bristow and Air Peace should immediately recall all sacked pilots and aircraft engineers until all labour issues were resolved.

    Failure to do that, it asked the NCAA to ground the airline because of attendant safety concerns created by their action. Galadima said: “As a result of the known consequences of these illegal actions…, we shall be forced to withdraw our guarantee of industrial peace within the industry if this call is not heeded within two weeks.

    “Our union will be left with no other option but to withdraw the services of pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers across all the airlines.”

  • Air Peace sacks over 70 pilots, gives reasons

    Air Peace sacks over 70 pilots, gives reasons

    Air Peace has fired over 70 pilots across its fleet types due to negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

    The company said the pandemic has taken a huge toll on its operations.

    According to the airline, it had to take the painful but rightful decision in the face of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations and financial health.

    The company stated that the job erasure for pilots among its over 3,000 staff became imperative because it could not afford to continue fulfill its financial obligations without carrying out restructuring of its entire operations to survive the times.

    Air Peace, in a statement on Monday said the decision was inevitable under the circumstances the company found itself.

    “In order to protect the continuity of majority of the existing jobs and the possibility of creating new ones in future, the survival of the airline is of paramount importance. When everything comes back to normal those pilots affected today will have a place to come back to in future if they so wish.

    “Anything short of what we have done may lead to the collapse of an airline as could be seen in some places worldwide during this period,” it said.

    “Therefore, we decided to review the salaries being paid to all staff. The new salaries reflect zero to 40 per cent cut of the former salary depending on the salary grades of every staff.

    “Even after the cuts, it was obvious for us to be able to sustain our operations and survive the times, some jobs must inevitably have to go,” it added.

  • Panic as 72-year-old man dies aboard Air Peace flight

    Panic as 72-year-old man dies aboard Air Peace flight

    A male passenger, on Saturday, died on an Air Peace Flight P47182 from Calabar to Abuja.

    The 72 years old man was said to have had a case of paraplegia due to a 2019 spinal injury and was travelling for a medical check-up in Abuja.

    “He became very sick mid-flight and upon arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Port Health official checked him and confirmed that he was dead,” the report said.

    Confirming the death of the passenger, Air Peace’s spokesman, Stanley Olisa, said the deceased was certified fit to fly.

    Olisa said: “The passenger was certified fit to fly by Port Health officials in Calabar, before boarding our aircraft. But the passenger developed a medical condition in-flight.

    “On arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, we urgently notified the Port Health officials who confirmed the death and took the remains of the passenger to the hospital for the necessary protocols.

    “Air Peace has thoroughly decontaminated its aircraft and Port Health is on top of the situation.”

  • FG reacts as UK denies Air Peace landing permit to evacuate stranded Nigerians

    FG reacts as UK denies Air Peace landing permit to evacuate stranded Nigerians

    The Federal Government said it will review its air agreements with various countries as a result of the unacceptable treatment of Nigerian carriers.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, made this known via his verified twitter handle on Sunday following the denial of landing rights to Air Peace at London’s Heathrow Airport.

    Onyeama, however, urged aggrieved Nigerians not to protest, but be grateful to Air Peace for providing alternative arrangements to ensure their successful evacuation in spite of the challenges.

    “Having been allowed to carry out one very successful evacuation of Nigerians from London at very low fares, Air Peace in coordination with the Nigerian Government and full knowledge of the UK authorities scheduled two additional flights.

    “All the arrangements were made including payments, only for the UK authorities to withdraw landing rights close to departure despite strong representations by the Nigerian Government, including pointing out the hardship that would be caused to hundreds of Nigerian evacuees,” he said.

    Onyeama said Air Peace could have just refunded the passengers, but exceptionally, patriotically and altruistically agreed to find an alternative carrier acceptable to the UK authorities.

    This, according to the minister, Air Peace did to carry out the evacuation a day later than scheduled, but for much higher fares.

    He said these higher fares could legitimately have been passed on to the evacuees, but Air Peace bore this huge cost itself.

    “This is to let the aggrieved evacuees know that the objects of their grievance should neither be Air Peace nor the Nigerian Government.

    “They should rather be eternally grateful to Air Peace.

    “The Nigerian Government will review its Air agreements with various countries as a result of the unacceptable treatment of Nigerian carriers during this pandemic,” Onyeama said.

    The evacuation of stranded Nigerians was rescheduled from July 13 to July 14, with the departure airport changed from Heathrow to Gatwick Airport, London.

    This, however, generated an outcry from some stranded Nigerians who blamed Air Peace Airline and the Federal Government for the inconveniences.

  • Air Peace evacuates 301 Chinese from Nigeria

    Air Peace has evacuated 301 Chinese from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China’s most populous, commercial city.

    Mr Stanley Olisa, Spokesman of the airline, said in a statement on Friday that the evacuation which took place on Thursday was arranged by the Chinese government.

    Olisa said that the flight took off about 10: 05p.m. Nigerian time and arrived China at about 1:15 p.m. Nigerian time on Friday.

    He said that Air Peace was also the airline that evacuated Israelis in Nigeria late March and has been contacted by other countries for evacuation operations.

    “Air Peace on Thursday, May 28, operated its second flight to China as we evacuated 301 Chinese nationals back to their country,” he said.

    He added The flight departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at exactly 10.05 p.m to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China.

    He said Air Peace deployed its Boeing 777 aircraft with the registration number 5N-BWI for the evacuation exercise.

    The Regional Airport Manager, South West, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Victoria Shin-Aba, said the flight: P47807 pushed back from the Echo terminal of MMIA at 9:40p.m. with 325 souls onboard – 301 Chinese evacuees and 24 crew members.

    She explained that all relevant government agencies such as FAAN, Nigeria Immigration Service, Port Health Services officials and others were fully on ground to ensure the success of the evacuation exercise.

    “Air Peace is slated to carry out more evacuation operations for other nationals living in Nigeria, as the airline and other domestic operators gear up to resume scheduled flight operations soon.

    “There are indications that commercial flight operations would resume early June, as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has started auditing airlines in preparation for scheduled passenger service,” she said.

  • Canada shuns FG, denies Air Peace right to evacuate Nigerians

    The Canadian government has denied Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, the right to evacuate Nigerian citizens stranded in the North American country.

    This is coming weeks after the evacuation was stalled following the inability of Air Peace to secure landing rights from Canada.

    The Federal Government had penultimate week designated Air Peace to conduct evacuation flight to bring Nigerians who are stranded in Canada with the flight plan to airlift passengers from Toronto and Calgary back to the country.

    But sources disclosed that the Canada High Commission opened talks with another foreign airline, in a bid to deny Air Peace the opportunity to carry out the evacuation flight.

    Though, the Federal Government through the Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama had assured that the issue was being resolved, findings revealed that the moves to position a foreign airline for the flight at a higher fare was responsible for the delay.

    But despite the insistence of the Nigerian government that Air Peace must carry out the flight, the airline has finally been denied the rights in what analysts see as the outcome of high wire aero-politics.

    The Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa has confirmed that the Canadian government has refused Air Peace Limited the right to evacuate Nigerian citizens in the country.

    This is despite the fact that the over 300 affected passengers had already bought an Air Peace ticket.

    The High Commission confirmed this in a letter dated May 20, 2020 with reference number NHS/OTT/ADM.56/I emanating from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs titled: “Update on the Flight postponement”.

    The letter read: “The best and overall well-being of Nigerians stranded in Canada were the overriding considerations of the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa seeking a solution to their predicament.

    “The aim was to come up with the most convenient and cost-effective arrangement possible bearing in mind that the many were stranded here through no fault of their own and some had become cash strapped.

    “The mission, therefore, engaged a number of airlines and eventually came up with an arrangement and pricing structure with Air Peace which no other airline was able to match.

    “You will recall that in our public notice of 12th May, 2020, the High Commission announced that the Canadian government had expressed reservations concerning the granting of necessary clearance/landing permit for Air Peace to fly into Canada, due to safety concerns.

    “Kindly be informed that after the protracted engagement, the Canadian government has unfortunately reverted with what appears to be a final refusal.

    “As a result, the Air Peace arrangement is cancelled. “During the negotiation with Air Peace, the issue of refunds was addressed in the event that the flight did not hold due to unforeseen circumstances and as such, everyone will get refunds for their tickets from Air peace as agreed.

    “In the meantime, the Nigerian High Commission is working assiduously to secure an alternative arrangement to get you home as soon as possible, safely and at the least cost possible.

    “Further updates will be communicated in due course.”

    It would be recalled that the Canada High Commission had directed that passengers should pay $2, 500 to another airline; while Air Peace charged $1, 134 and 319 passengers have already paid to the indigenous airline, which has concluded plans to operate full flight to the North American country.

    ‘We have done many international flights’ In response to the safety concern raised by Air Peace, the airline had disclosed that it had successfully flown to 40 countries, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom. An official who spoke in confidence said: “We have done many international flights, including landing in Canada.

    “We have made 19 flights to the United States of America since 2014. “We have flown to Tel-Aviv several times and in March we evacuated over 200 Israelis from Nigeria during this COVID-19 lockdown.”

    “We have scheduled flight operations to United Arab Emirates. “We have also flown to UK, Ireland, China, Turkey, Germany, Iceland, Switzerland and other countries. “We have IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification and we are member of IATA.

    “We have also evacuated Nigerians from South Africa during the Xenophobia attack of Africans there. “We are grateful to the Federal Government and the Ministry of Aviation for all the support it is giving Air Peace and other ingenious carriers,”

  • FG set to evacuate 200 Nigerians stranded in Canada

    FG set to evacuate 200 Nigerians stranded in Canada

    The Nigeria High Commission in Canada said it is set to evacuate Nigerians stranded in that country due to coronavirus travel restrictions.

    In a statement on Monday, the mission said it had received no fewer than 200 requests for evacuation.

    To this end, it stated that a Boeing 777 aircraft operated by Air Peace had been specially arranged to fly the intending returnees home this Thursday.

    The high commission noted that it could be the only special evacuation flight for Nigerian nationals stranded in Canada due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    It said the plane would pick the prospective passengers from two locations in Canada, namely Toronto and Alberta.

    According to the flight schedule, the aircraft is expected to pick the first set from the Pearson International Airport, Toronto.

    From there it will fly to the Calgary International Airport, Alberta, a distance of 2,915 k.m., to load the second set of passengers.

    The aircraft will depart Alberta for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where the evacuees would be moved into isolation for 14 days.

    The one-way flight will cost each prospective evacuee between 1,130 dollars (N452,000) and 2,000 dollars (N800,000) depending on the class.

    The special evacuation exercise began on Wednesday with the return of 265 Nigerians from the United Arab Emirates.

    On Friday, 253 were brought back from the United Kingdom, followed by 160 from the United States on Sunday.

    This brings to 678 the total number of Nigerians evacuated by the Federal Government so far.

  • Air Peace denies reports of crew members absconding quarantine facility

    Air Peace has denied reports that three of its crew members absconded from the quarantine facility of the Lagos Government.

    Its Chief Operating Officer, Mrs Toyin Olajide, made the denial in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday.

    Olajide was refering to one of its aircraft operated by Boeing B777-200ER (P4 5-NBVE) which airlifted medical supplies and some Chinese medical personnel who arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on April 8.

    According to her, all the crew members that operated the flight which included six pilots, eight cabin crew, two engineers and one dispatch officer are still quarantined under the supervision of the Lagos State Government.

    She explained that at the onset of the flight to China, the crew members were tested for the COVID-19 and each of the members tested negative.

    Olajide said that the airline followed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) protocol to ensure that the crew members were protected from any form of exposure to the virus.

    She said that on arrival at Beijing airport none of the crew members came out of the aircraft, while the aircraft was loaded with medical supplies.

    ”The Chinese medical team boarded the aircraft from the central door and stayed in the business class cabin before the take off of the flight to Nigeria,” she said.

    She said that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) approved standard protocol to protect flight crew during the COVID-19 pandemic and those of NCAA were adopted.

    According to to her, it was this protocol that Air Peace followed in conducting the flight to Beijing.

    Olajide said that the crew members did not know that they would be quarantined on arrival, but when the aircraft landed in Abuja, the concerned authorities suggested it.

    ”Air Peace argued against it because it followed NCAA protocol in conducting the flight, so discussions on it was inconclusive when the flight headed to Lagos,” she said.

    According to her, the airline later learnt that while the flight was airborne to Lagos, Abuja directed the Lagos State Government to quarantine the crew on arrival.

    “While the engineers and the dispatcher went down to the foot of the aircraft to secure it, the Lagos State government’s health team took the pilots and the cabin crew to quarantine.

    ”Ignorant that they would be quarantined, the engineers and the dispatcher finished their work and went home, but later the Lagos State government contacted Air Peace and said that the engineers and the dispatcher ought to be quarantined.

    ”We called on them and they went to the quarantine facility where they have been ever since then.

    ”So, the report that indicated that members of our crew ran away from quarantine is not true. It is a report written in bad taste and it is not good because the crew did a heroic thing and need to be commended instead of being vilified,” Olajide said.

    The NCAA had issued circular to airlines and other stakeholders with ref: NCAA/DG/AIR/11/110 dated March 28, 2020.

    The circular outlined the protocol in handling cargo and other essential flights during the COVID-19.

    It had among the directives included the fact that “Nigerian operators on any approved flight to any destination with over 1000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 shall ensure the provision of reinforced flight crew (two sets) for immediate return in accordance with relevant protocols.

    NCAA also directed that there should be no servicing of aircraft (catering, water, trash etc), except refueling and this must be accomplished with flight crew on board.

    Olajide confirmed that the airline kept to this protocol and instead of two-flight crew, it went with three sets of flight crew and strictly kept to the NCAA protocol until it landed in Abuja.

    ”While we kept to the directive of quarantining the crew members that conducted the flight, we are surprised that after we followed this protocol the crew members were still asked to be quarantined.

    “ICAO’s intention with the protocol is to ensure that flight crew is not quarantined after their operation. Every day, flights are operated all over the world, moving medicals and other critical items.

    “If you quarantine the pilots who will be flying these items that are needed to save human lives under this COVID-19 pandemic?,” Olajide asked.