Nigerian Eye

European airlines cut fares to attract passengers

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With the coronavirus crisis putting a chill on travel, European airlines are reducing fares to attract passengers and fill the planes that are still flying.
Travel restrictions adopted by many countries to stem the spread of the disease have clobbered airlines, bringing air traffic to a near halt in the spring. And while traffic picked up during the summer, it is now falling off again.
According to Eurocontrol, which coordinates air traffic in Europe, traffic has been slowing over the past couple of weeks, and is now 54 percent below its comparable level last year.
A European airline trade association has put August traffic even lower, at just 30 percent of 2019 levels.
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Eurocontrol is now more pessimistic about a recovery for the sector.
In the spring it had expected traffic to be 30 percent below 2019 levels in October, but it now sees a 57-percent drop.
While the pandemic has left airlines starved for cash, they have begun to cut fare prices.
According to ForwardKeys, a company which analyses the tourism market, airlines trimmed fares from Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands to destinations in southern Europe by 15 percent in August compared with the same period last year.
In a study released Thursday it found that prices on some routes were down by more than one third.
“You have to entice travellers to return to flying and price is a factor,” said Reginald Otten, deputy managing director for France at budget airline easyJet.
He said the airline had managed to reopen some routes during the summer and the planes it flew were nearly full.
“But we are nevertheless around 30 percent of capacity, which is a very, very low figure, and the summer is the most important, most popular (time) for people to travel,” he told AFP.
Lower prices also stimulate traffic, according to Eddie Wilson, head of Ryanair DAC, one of the two firms which operate flights under the Ryanair brand.
Ryanair, which has used a low-cost model to become one of Europe’s biggest airlines, this week launched a brief buy-one-get-one-free promotion.
“At some stage you can’t sit there and look out of the window and hope that things will be alright and wait for the politicians to do something,” he said.
Beyond cutting prices, airlines can and are focusing on their most profitable routes.
But the reimposition of travel restrictions and tighter quarantine and testing measures could quickly undo their planning and efforts.
European airlines earlier this month urged national capitals to coordinate measures to limit the spread of the virus, saying the current patchwork of restrictions is hobbling a return to regular travel around the EU.
Airlines are responding to the drop in demand for travel “with the tools they have in hand: reducing capacity and promotional offers, but they have no control over the evolution of the pandemic and policies on restricting travel,” said Oliver Ponti, vice president of ForwardKeys.
“The effect of low prices will thus be limited, especially as consumers remain worried about their plans being disrupted and rapid reimbursement of their tickets in case of cancellation,” he added.

Latest-News European airlines cut fares to attract passengers

With the coronavirus crisis putting a chill on travel, European airlines are reducing fares to attract passengers and fill the planes that...

Werner unhappy with Chelsea’s performance after 3-3 draw with West Brom

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Chelsea striker, Timo Werner, has said he is “absolutely unhappy” with the team’s performance, following their 3-3 draw with West Brom on Saturday.
The Blues went into half time 3-0 down, conceding three times after just 27 minutes at the Hawthorns.
It left Frank Lampard’s men staring at a second consecutive defeat in the Premier League.
But Chelsea battled back after the break and goals from Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi handed them a lifeline, before Tammy Abraham scored the equalizer in injury time.
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Werner is still searching for his first Premier League goal since moving to Stamford Bridge in the summer and the German striker says he has mixed emotions following the draw against West Brom.
He wrote on Instagram: “We never give up Chelsea! Absolutely unhappy with our performance but great fighting spirit.”
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Latest-News Werner unhappy with Chelsea’s performance after 3-3 draw with West Brom

Chelsea striker, Timo Werner, has said he is “absolutely unhappy” with the team’s performance, following their 3-3 draw with West Brom on ...

Dare, Dabiri-Erewa, others congratulate Adesanya after successful title defence

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Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa and other Nigerians have congratulated Nigerian-born UFC middleweight champion, Isreal Adesanya, after retaining his title with a second round knockout of Paulo Costa in Abu Dhabi.
Adesanya made light work of his opponent, dominating the fight from start to finish as he wrapped up business with a knockout of Costa in the second round via punches.
Adesanya was barely touched in the fight and left Costa needing medical attention after the defeat.
Reacting to the victory, Dare, Dabiri-Erewa and other Nigerians on social media celebrated the Lagos-born UFC Star.
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“Isreal Adesanya wins again. Second round knockout! Middleweight  Champion of the World! Nigeria in the podium again. Shout out to Lagos!“ Sunday Dare tweeted.
Dare also congratulated Canadian-born Nigerian fighter Hakeem Dawodu who had earlier defeated Russian Zubaira Tukhugov via split decision to stay unbeaten in nine professional MMA fights in the featherweight division.
“I also congratulate and celebrate Hakeem Dawodu. Another Nigerian who won his fight this morning before Isreal,” Dare added.
Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa also hailed Adesanya’s feat.
“Congrats @stylebender . You made it all look so so easy,” Dabiri-Erewa wrote on Twitter.
Other Nigerians also hailed the middleweight champion for the easy fight despite pundits predicting a tough encounter.
“Izzy Adesanya knocked Costa out in round 2 of the #ufc253 . The last style bender is one of the smartest fighters I have ever watched. A win for Nigeria. A win for Africa,” OB Amponsah tweeted.
“That left hook right behind Costa’s ear did the damage. Israel Adesanya is no fluke. No one saw this game ending in round 2 , Naija great,” @cktwist23 tweeted.
“Israel Adesanya gave a shout out to Nigerians after an “Izzy” victory. He never forgets his roots. Congratulations,” Elvis Tunde reacted to Adesanya’s win on Twitter.

Latest-News Dare, Dabiri-Erewa, others congratulate Adesanya after successful title defence

Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa and other Nigerians have congrat...

We are back to the days of ‘Ateke’ – Amaechi decries insecurity in Rivers

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The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has lamented the recurring spate of insecurity and political intimidation in Rivers State.
Amaechi, a former Governor of the State expressed the concern during the funeral service of the late Justice Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte at Saint Augustine’s Anglican Church, Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
While extolling the virtues of the Late Supreme Court Judge, Amaechi said fear has pervaded the state he bequeathed in 2015 but residents have failed to openly challenge the current administration.
Amaechi who was making reference to activities of Kidnappers and cultists stated that Rivers is heading back to the dark days when cultists terrorized residents of the State.
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“You have lost your voice. The sage has gone under and nobody is speaking. When I was Governor, I gave people voices, but they have blocked those voices.
“I was happy with the sermon, the Bishop indicted us. If you are a Governor, have you governed well? If you are a politician, have you carried your people along?
“Everyone is scared. We are going back to when Ateke held sway. We are going back to the period where we run away from our people. We are back to a period when nobody can speak. But from next year, I will begin to speak, if nobody wants to speak.
“We are all here because we need to bury a man God has blessed. I have stopped travelling because of bad weather, but I told myself, I must be at here because of Justice Whyte.
“If you knew Justice very well, you will know I was close to him. I was one of the few people he mentored. He taught me that character was essential to life. I was a Governor at 42, and he told me, even in my 40s, I was the oldest person in Rivers State and that I must behave like a father to all,” Amaechi said.
The late Justice Karibi-Whyte, was born in 1932 in the present day Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. He attended the University of Hull in East Yorshire, England in 1957 and the University College of the University of London in 1962, for the Masters of Law (LLM) degree. Before his appointment as judge of the Federal Revenue Court on June 12, 1976, Justice Karibi-Whyte was an Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos and Acting Solicitor-General, Ministry of Justice, Rivers State.
Justice Karibi-Whyte, CFR became Justice of the Federal Court of Appeal in 1980, Justice of the supreme Court in 1984, and Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, at Hague, Netherlands in 1993.

Latest-News We are back to the days of ‘Ateke’ – Amaechi decries insecurity in Rivers

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has lamented the recurring spate of insecurity and political intimidation in Rivers State. ...

#BBNaija 2020: Nengi breaks down in tears after Ozo ignored her, vows to end relationship

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Big Brother Naija, BBNaija finalist Nengi on Sunday morning broke down in tears.
It all started after the Saturday night party ended.
Speaking to Laycon in tears, Nengi said Ozo ignored her at the party.
“Almost everybody ignored me even people I thought were my friends.
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“Imagine Ozo too ignored me,” Nengi sobs.
Nengi has vowed that her friendship with Ozo will be over when she leaves the house on Sunday.
Laycon who was consoling her advised her to be proud of herself and not to be bothered about that.
“ You should be proud of yourself, you’re a finalist.
“You came here because of yourself and not anyone, so cheer up.”
The finale Saturday night party was attended by all Ex-housemates, except Erica.

Latest-News #BBNaija 2020: Nengi breaks down in tears after Ozo ignored her, vows to end relationship

Big Brother Naija, BBNaija finalist Nengi on Sunday morning broke down in tears. It all started after the Saturday night party ended. Sp...

Nigeria records fresh COVID-19 cases as toll hits 58,198

09:55 Unknown 0

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Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases have reached 58,198 with 49,722 patients discharged from various isolation centres across the country.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed on its official Twitter that 136 new cases of the infections with three deaths have been recorded in the country as of Saturday.
The health agency said that the new infections were reported from 13 states, while 116 patients were discharged.
Lagos State recorded the highest number of cases with 41 new infections, while Ogun, Rivers Abia, and Oyo States recorded 27, 19, 10 and 6 cases respectively.
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Other states with new infections were Plateau-6, Bauchi-5, Ondo-5, Ekiti-4, Kaduna-4, Edo-3, Ebonyi-2, Bayelsa-1, Delta-1, Osun-1 and Yobe-1.
The NCDC added that the fatality figure of the country stands at 1,106 from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Latest-News Nigeria records fresh COVID-19 cases as toll hits 58,198

Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases have reached 58,198 with 49,722 patients discharged from various isolation centres across the country. The Niger...

President Buhari under attack for allegedly authorizing presidential jet for aide’s wedding

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President Muhammadu Buhari has come under fire for allegedly authorizing the use of the Presidential Jet for the wedding of one of his aides, Bashir Ahmad.
Reno Omokri, in s statement to newsmen on Saturday called on the President to refund the National Treasury the cost of using the Presidential Jet for his PA’s wedding.
President Buhari’s assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad wedded in Katsina on Friday and the Presidential Jet was said to have been used to ferry him and others in the Presidential Villa to the venue.
The Presidency is said to have denied using the jet to ferry Bashir, saying that it only flew the President’s representatives, but Omokri insists the excuse is flawed and shows that after five years in office, Buhari still does not understand statecraft.
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Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan noted that a Presidential jet is not the property of the President but of the nation, for use in the ferrying him (the President) to and fro his official functions.
The former Presidential aide recalled that a similar incident happened in South Africa when on September 12, 2020, it was discovered that President Cyril Ramaphosa had allowed his Minister of Defence, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, to travel with South Africa’s Presidential Jet for an official meeting of the African National Congress.
According to him, “Once this came to light, the Julius Malema led Economic Freedom Fighters pressure group, insisted that the President and his party must reimburse the national treasury for the cost of the trip, as well as suspend the Defence Minister.
“In less than 48 hours, the ANC capitulated and reimbursed the national treasury, and the fate of the Defence Minister is hanging in the balance.
“Also, the Office of the Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, is investigating the ANC and the government over the incident. That is how it should be.
“It is a significant breach of his fiduciary duties for General Buhari to give out the Presidential jet to his representatives to his Personal Assistant, Bashir Ahmed’s wedding in Katsina on Friday, September 27, 2020. This is a private event that has no bearing on Nigeria.
“And the excuse given by the Presidency that the jet did not ferry Bashir, but only flew the President’s representatives is flawed and shows that after five years in office, General Buhari still does not understand statecraft.
“If this had occurred in the United Kingdom, it could have caused the government to fall. I understand that standards have slipped in Nigeria since 2015, but we must at least pretend to be a civilised nation.
“The Buhari administration keeps complaining that times are hard, but they are living large at our expense and Nigerians should not take this lying low from a government that just increased fuel price and power tariff.
“The wedding of your subordinates is a private affair. It is not an official function.
“I, therefore, call on General Buhari to reimburse the national treasury for the cost of fuelling the Presidential jet to Katsina for Bashir Ahmad’s wedding, as well as the cost of paying the crew.
“I also call on the President to suspend all public officials involved in this abuse of office. Failure to do so is proof positive that the President is not in charge of his government and his anti-corruption war is, in reality, an anti-opposition war.”