by Makeda Mikael
EXPLORATORY CHARTER FROM NIGERIA TO ANTIGUA ‘BIZARRE’?
The aircraft type which was used for the Nigerian-Antiguan charter would normally fetch in the region of US$15,000. per hour, and considering that aircraft charters begin at wheels up at base to wheels down at base, we have a rough estimate of costs.
Based on rough calculations the total of 54 hours is based on Madrid-Lagos 5.5; Lagos – Antigua 12; Antigua-Madrid(?) 9.5; Madrid-Antigua 9.5; Antigua-Lagos 12; Lagos-Madrid 5.5.
The estimated cost of the wet lease could be in the region of US $810,000 and could include Ground Handling, meals and everything Airport to Airport. Then with the reported 150 bums on seats round trip cost could be reduced to US $5,400 per person cost at the lowest level of all economy class.
Clearly this did not happen, and as a consequence conspiracy theories of what was in the belly of the aircraft have begun to take flight also, getting more complicated as only the cargo boarding under heavy security in Lagos was photographed. It is also known that only baggage was offloaded in Antigua.
Of course this has carried the conspiratorial cargo seen loading in Lagos to a third destination, and could actually be legal freight picked up for delivery either in Madrid or another European country.
The tourists were clearly not the quality which could enhance our current tourism market, as most seemed to be either students or other young persons without disposable income.
If we are testing the water, it would have been much better to have sought business persons coming to explore possibilities, and spend based on their interest, and housed according to their pocket.
The real rich Nigerians require first and second world boutique shops, and upmarket restaurant clubs, as dropping big money is a major part of the affluent African habit on vacation.
If there is a next time charter or if the scheduled service is planned for success, the aircraft and its African passengers deserve much more, and our people on this side must be involved. This can only happen if the airline operators are more transparent, which is a requirement of aviation and a good business practice, and receive the organizational help expected from the host’s agencies.
The absence of any group connections between the people is also a major missing part of the Caribbean African experience for the peoples of both Nigeria and Antigua.
Those whose first trip off the continent of Africa across the mid-Atlantic to Antigua, should be taking home memories of people met and places shared. Meet the people programs should have been set in place before the aircraft landed, and maybe even a pouring of libation as a remembrance to our joint ancestors!
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Garbage article
The likes of real news
@ Iman
It’s garbage to you because you lack understanding of the issues.
Poor minion of Gaston and the ABLP
One Mans FREEDOM Fighter
Could Terrorize Another Mans World
With all the GLitter & Glamour
Lest We Not FORGET. 👍
Triangular Trade.
Let DEM Realize De Path is Paved.
Calling Dem BUMS
Retrogression.
Bizzare
We BOAT it
They Float it
We Living ITt
I want to know what CIRCUS MASTER GASTON has to say about this latest cluster-f*ck!
IF there had been officals and wealthy Africans on that flight, he would have staged a major photo op at the airport, puffed up like Tom turkey, and grinning like a damn hyeana!
Whey him now?
No “conspiracy” here. This was as straight forward a busted roll out of the so-call “Antigua airways” collaboration of African nations intercontinental travels, and a far cry from what was so twistedly hype as this big venture for Antigua and it’s people. I’m a business man who have invested in Antigua, and this give me pause to even call this roll out any part of a success. Many warned of this very thing would happen,but the relevant party’s just vaguely dismiss those very warnings. Antigua government needs to do better, and let us not sugar coat the joke this has turned out to be. Smdh.
Once again Mr Lovell”drop the ball” as it relates to the charter flight from Nigeria. For a person whose political career was all about “Pan Africanism and African Liberation,it was shameful and disappointing.Rather than capitalizing on this opportunity,if he forms the next Government,he resorted to insults,stereotyping,tropes of our Africans brothers and sisters.Shame !Shame!Shame! Africans came calling but becausing they didn’t fit the profiles of the North American or European tourists,you spat in their faces with insults describing them as un desirables who hang out in Lagos.A miss opportunity to show statesmanship and ability to lead Antigua/Barbuda.
@ Real Talk
WHERE WAS YOUR DAM PM AND CUTIE TO SHOW LEADERSHIP? THEY WERE ALL CONSPICIOUSLY ABSENT, BUT YOU WANT LOVELL TO TAKE LEADERSHIP WHEN HE ALREADY WARNED THEM OF THEIR FOLLY.
LOVELL A NA THE PM, FOOL
@ Real Talk
What Harold Lovell have to do with this foolishness.
It is a mess that the ABLP created. Harold saw through the nonsense.
What is amazing is how ABLP supporters abandoned our brothers and sisters from the Motherland who were walking the streets looking for food and shelter.
Another stain on the ABLP TATTERED AND TORN FABRIC
REAL TALK or should I say BEEF, what the hell does Pan Africanism and African Liberation has to do with the folly of the sham Antigua Airways and its one off charter from Lagos to Antigua? The entire scheme was shameful. It is Gaston and his government that have gone to such lenghts to use our African brothers and sisters in their weird scheme to get some political mileage.
@ Real Talk, just admit what this really was and stop trying to use a red herring. This was a gimmick! Pure and simple. An absolute farce. Can’t you see that the PM distanced himself literally and figuratively?!
@ Real Talk
What Harold Lovell have to do with this foolishness.
It is a mess that the ABLP created. Harold saw through the nonsense.
What is amazing is how ABLP supporters abandoned our brothers and sisters from the Motherland who were walking the streets looking for food and shelter.
Another stain on the ABLP TATTERED AND TORN FABRIC
The Charter plane has left but there are displaced persons still reported to be roaming the streets of Gambles area who should have been on that flight.
What is happening?
Can the Immigration Department release both the arrival and departure figures from that ‘Charter’ flight?
If there is a discrepancy can they state (a) why? (b) where are those left behind staying? and (c) what is being done to assist these persons left behind?
Absolutely @ Joan Salmon, but you’ve overlooked one important thing; look who’s the head of the Immigration Department. Katrina Yearwood.
Katrina has previous problems in recent times with the missing Haitians 🇭🇹, Indians 🇮🇳, and I know expect the same issue to arise with the in-flight Nigerians. 🇳🇬
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again … NEPOTISM JUST DOESN’T WORK IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR!
*now
Nice news article Mikeda Mikael, you hit the spot 100% with this bizarre flight between Nigeria 🇳🇬 and Antigua 🇦🇬 that asks more questions than it answers.
However, the Gaston Browne ACOLYTES will lap this up and see nothing wrong with this mystifying, unaccountable and ludicrous aviation con-trick!
To rational thinking individuals, this whole thing wreaks of something. Only time will tell what really went down. Where are the immigration officers who handled this scene? How come they are so silent? Word is, visas were unlawfully processed at the V C Bird airport. This is really one of the reasons our country is in such a mess. There are those who know but keep silent, and that, to me, makes them worst that the people perpetrating the deception.
Well, we already have an air force, why not an airline? What next, a space program?
Comments are closed.