Nigeria: IRS Airlines - Competing for the Future

	Email This Page Print This Page

This Day (Lagos)

28 September 2007
Posted to the web 28 September 2007

Lagos

IRS Airlines limited is a privately held limited liability company incorporated on the 19th day of November 2001 to carry on the business of aviation and allied services.

The company was issued an Air Transport License in February 2002 to enable it operate as a full fledged airline while it was issued an Air operator's certificate in March 2002 thus signifying its compliance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Air Navigation Regulations and its capability to operate and maintain aircraft for passenger and cargo transport in Nigeria. IRS Airlines also has an Aircraft Maintenance Organisation certificate which authorises the company to carry out basic maintenance on the fleet that it operates.

Current Situation

The company has been a visible player in the domestic sector for over four (4) years and was recently designated as a Nigerian Flag carrier to Dakar (Senegal), Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Douala (Cameroon), Libreville (Gabon) and Beirut (Lebanon).

The airline commenced operations with two Boeing 727-200 advance aircraft which the management quickly discovered was very expensive to operate for the market share that IRS had and was generally not very cost efficient. As a result, the airline has in the last three years changed its fleet, expanded and is transforming the in-flight service scape.

This led to a fleet change program including the acquisition of 3 modern Fokker F-28 Mk 4000 aircraft and the more modern Fokker F-28 Mk 100 better known as the Fokker 100. The Fokker F100 when it was introduced to the market in November 2004 was the first of its type to be operated in Nigeria. This new generation twin engine jet aircraft is stage IV noise compliant which makes it among the quietest aircraft manufactured today. The cockpit is equipped with electronic flight information system (EFIS) popularly referred to as the "glass cockpit". This makes monitoring of the flight process easier for the crew, thus ensuring a safer aircraft. It is also equipped with auto throttle and auto land systems that will guide the aircraft to within ten (10) feet of the runway threshold, where the airport is so equipped.

The company recently took delivery of a brand new Embraer 145 LR regional jet which will eventually replace the F-28's when they are retired in a few months.

IRS has completely re-branded, changing from the initial American Airlines livery in which the B727's were delivered to a predominantly white and navy blue livery with a blue tail carrying its trademark logo of an eagle head screened in Gold.

IRS Airlines is the first to offer an all leather seat interior with onboard video and audio entertainment system installed for both its Business and Coach Class on the F100 and for its business class passengers on the F-28. The Company is also about to sign an agreement with digEcor to provide digital entertainment system in its coach class.

Flying on their F-28 in business class comes not only with the video and audio systems and individual wireless headphones, but also with the additional thrill of getting the pilots view of the entire flight from taxi, takeoff and landing through a cockpit mounted camera that is connected to the in flight entertainment (IFE) display. For standardisation, all IRS aircrafts are being passed through a comprehensive maintenance and refurbishment process as they become due for major checks.

The IRS ticket distribution process is also being overhauled. The company is investing heavily in information technology and has contracted T.I.K systems, (Thailand) Co Ltd to develop and deploy for its use a web based, online ticketing and reservation system, including a departure control system.

Some of the features of this new system include online ticket purchase, remote check-in for passengers without checked baggage, SMS boarding notification to all intending passengers including delays and cancellation notification whenever they occur. The system also comes with a remodelled frequent flyer program christened the IRS T-plus which is now based on miles and has a whole lot of flexibility in benefit administration. This system also aims at complying with an IATA resolution targeting 100% e-ticketing by year end 2007.

All these become quite easily noticeable as the airline strives to transform Lagos and Abuja into domestic and regional hubs for connecting flights to and from all parts of the country.

Routes

IRS Airlines is the dominant carrier on the Lagos-Kano, Lagos-Maiduguri and Lagos-Yola Routes. The company also operates between Lagos and Abuja and intends to commence operations between Lagos and Enugu soon. It will also re-introduce its Calabar-Abuja service in the New Year.

Maintenance Management

IRS employs several talented Nigerian engineers who are complemented with about Seven (7) expatriate engineers to support its line maintenance up to and including B Checks which are done in Nigeria. All other higher checks are carried out in South Africa in cooperation with Aeronexus (Pty) Ltd, a South African Aircraft Maintenance Organisation