Aviation

Nigerian airlines lose revenue to bad weather

 

Nigerian airlines have recorded huge loss as a result of bad weather.
It was gathered that torrential rainfalls and thunderstorm clouds led
to flight cancellations and delays in the course of the year.
According to airlines, this year’s rain has lasted relatively longer
than past years and has been accompanied by thunderstorm and low level
wind shear.
This has forced operators to suspend some flights and delay others.
The Nigeria Meteorological Agency had early in the year predicted that
this year’s rains would be longer.
It predicted that the weather would be accompanied by heavy flooding
and thunderstorm.
According to information gathered from economic confidential, one of
the major operators had an aircraft damaged by lightening, forcing the
management to ground it.
In another instance, a large body aircraft narrowly escaped damage
when lightning struck at the international wing of the Murtala
Muhammed Airport, Lagos, creating a crater on the tarmac near the
aircraft’s position.
Corporate Affairs Manager of Dana Air, Kingsley Ezenwa, who spoke with
journalists, blamed bad weather for affecting the smooth operations of
airlines in the country.
He further said that the management of the airline accurately followed
weather’s idiosyncrasies to ensure the right decisions are made at any
time.
He said, “Weather sometimes affects on-time-performance and as a
safety conscious airline, we rely on a good weather report to fly and
also ensure the passengers are comfortable and do not experience
discomfort in case of meeting the bad weather en-route.
“Sometimes, flights are delayed till the weather gets better and some
passengers also get agitated.
“We try our best to also enlighten them and most are beginning to
understand these issues. Irrespective, our on-time performance record
has been good and we hope to maintain it.”
A major operator told journalists that aircrafts are fortified against
lightening but not equally.
He counselled other operators to take cognisance of peculiar issues of
weather and ensure the aircraft is built with the ability to resist
such natural phenomenon.
“We live in the tropical region where there is heavy lightening
because we are very close to the equator.
“There is lightning and thunder resistant instrument installed in
every aircraft called lightning rods and lightening arrester.
“There are about three whiskers in Bombardier CRJ 900 but we requested
the manufacturer to add two more.
“Bombardier has a net of thunder arresters on its whole body, which
helps it to resist lightening.
“One day, one of the Bombardier aircrafts was struck while airborne
and the pilot communicated the incident but because of the
fortification, nothing happened to the aircraft.
“So for us operating in the tropical zone we have to take extra
measure to fortify our aircraft against lightning and thunderstorm.
“This is the advantage when you order your own aircraft some of these
things can be custom made to suit your operational environment,” the
operator said.
Poor weather conditions are expected to continue in November, leading
up to the low visibility brought on by Harmattan at the end of
December.

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