IATA'S Mrs. ADEYEMI Appointed to AFCAC's Top Job

Over 15,000 flights scheduled for August have already been cancelled in Europe as the aviation sector is struggling to meet the demand for the summer tourist season.

The reason’s: after 2 years of no travel, people need and want to get away; a significant lack of staff across airlines, ground handlers, etc is adding to the employment shortages despite thousands having been laid off during the epidemic; and finally strikes by pilots and other workers within the industry.

We all need to work, pay for the roof over our head, but when you are asked to work the same job for less when you are busier than ever, why should you! Do these big companies truly believe their employees are that stupid to accept such conditions, when many understand that during the pandemic it was necessary, but now there is no excuse for lower salaries and unfavourable work conditions, non-paid sick leave, almost non-existent pensions, etc. Protests are sweeping across the European continent as a result.

In addition, many airlines are cancelling people’s tickets having re-sold them for a much higher price and not making any effort to provide good customer care to the passenger. People have been sitting on their plane and the flight has been cancelled. Passengers have been stranded with no help, advice or assistance from the airline.

With many European airlines, having put a limit on daily flights, which has forced airlines to cancel flights, airlines are also cancelling them for their own budgetary reasons.

As if this is not enough! As the latest variant of Covid-19 is even more transmissible, but less harmful, the number of staff taking sick leave due to illness is adding to the aviation industry woes.

Finally, did we mention the cost of living crisis, which is also creating instability in society and industry alike.

IATA'S ADEYEMI APPOINTED TO AFCAC'S TOP JOB

Mrs. Adefunke Adeyemi has been elected as the new Secretary General of the African Civil Aviation Commission.

She succeeds Mr. Tefera Mekonnen who is currently IATA’s director, external affairs and sustainability for the Africa region.

Mrs. Adeyami said her objective is to build on the progress already made by previous Secretaries General and teams of AFCAC to see a new dawn for change through positive action for AFCAC and African aviation. “The vision for African aviation is to enable a fully connected, prosperous and united Africa,” she said. Previously, Mrs. Adeyemi has been the IATA focal point for the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and a Private Sector Champion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA). Before joining IATA she was company secretary and general counsel at Virgin Nigeria Airways.

“We must all work together to tackle the challenges that African aviation has faced and harness the opportunities that abound to translate Africa’s aviation potential into reality. The time is now. Africa must fully connect, for its own survival and prosperity. Civil aviation must continue to focus on its core areas and also work much closer with the tourism and trade sectors. This synergy, which must be intentional, will ensure that African aviation survives, grows and thrives for the benefit of Africa and its citizens”, Mrs. Adeyemi said.

VIETJET 13 NEW ROUTES BETWEEN VIETNAM AND INDIA

Vietnam's low coast airline VietJet Aviation, later this year plans to launch 13 new routes between Vietnam's major cities and its tourism island of Phu Quoc with Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai.