SAA Unveils New Aircraft on Lagos-Jo’burg Route

• SAA Unveils New Aircraft on Lagos-Jo’burg Route

South African Airways says despite the harsh operating environment and the current economic recession, it has unveiled its new aircraft on the Lagos-Johannesburg route.

The A330-300, according to the Regional Manager, North, West and Central Africa of South African Airways, Ohis Ehimiaghe, is one of the five state-of-the-art environmental friendly and comfortable aircraft that the airline has acquired to improve its service offerings for its Nigerian passengers.

He said, “We are not reducing capacity or pulling out because we believe Nigerians deserve the better. So, we want our Nigerian passengers to enjoy the feel of our new aircraft.

“It has been a tough time for airlines in the country but South African Airways believes in the Nigerian market.”

He said the sector had been challenged by foreign exchange difficulties and scarcity of aviation fuel, among others.

“There is scarcity of aviation fuel and the priority has never been on aviation fuel but on the Premium Motor Spirit. We get it at a premium here, or go to Ghana; but unfortunately, Ghana is running dry of the commodity,” he said.

Ehimiaghe also said that the airline’s Abuja flights had resorted to flying to Libreville, Gabon to get aviation fuel.

He lamented that the skyrocketing price of Jet A1 in Nigeria had added to the pains of airlines whose about 30 per cent of their revenues went to fuelling aircraft.