On Friday 6th of July 2018, the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika received the Outline Business Case Compliance Certificate from the Infrastructural Concession Regulation Commission. This certificate indicates that the Nigeria government is full ready to commence preparation to acquire aircraft for the reestablishment of a national carrier.
Lots of things have been said concerning the national carrier. Industrial experts said that establishment of a national carrier is not an overnight journey. It involves lots of processes from consultation to training of manpower and other important things that need to be considered.
Sagetravels.com has critically looked at what the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika said concerning the proposed national airline.
Here Are the 23 Key Facts To Note About The New Nigeria National Airline.
- Federal Government has confirmed the date for the commencement of the National Airline.
- The Nigerian government is not fully funding the airline as it has adopted midwifing it via the option of a Public-Private partnership, to deliver a national carrier that would stand the test of time and be world class in operation and management.
- Nigeria will receive the first set of 5 Airplanes for the Airliner on 19 December 2018.
- The proposed Airline will gulp $8.8million preliminary cost and $300 million as take-off cost.
- The airline will make profits in 3 years after operations.
- The Federal government will make the investments and follow the business plan through private sector management”.
- The Federal government intends to get about 30 Aircraft in 5 years.
- The National Airline will begin with 5 Aircraft on the day of launch.
- At Farnborough International Public Airshow coming July 18, 2018, in London, the nation carrier Name, Logo, Colour scheme, the Structure and the Type of aeroplane for the national carrier will be unveiled.
- Order for the aircraft will be placed at the Farnborough International Public Airshow coming July 18, 2018, in London.
- The federal government would step in to cover the funding gap at the onset and ease out thereafter.
- The government would not get involved in the management of the National Carrier.
- The Airline would take advantage of Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) that the country had with over 70 countries.
- It will also take advantage of the Africa Single Air Transport Market and will be the best player if the government gets it right.
- The government would bring its contribution to kick-start the Airline.
- The amount of equity the partners would hold would determine government contribution.
- The Startup cost over the next 3 years is about $300 million, but pre-start-up is $8.8 million.
- The rest of the investment will be equity injection which will happen in tranches.
- The government will provide financial needed to make it take off, but the National Carrier will be entirely private sector controlled.
- There will be zero government interference.
- The government will have to spend on the pre-startup cost like the brand name, the office and other startup costs.
- It will be a world-class airline with domestic, regional and international operations.
- The national Airline will not hinder domestic airlines from thriving.