Durban — THE Federal Government may have to do more than it is currently doing if we are to have a new national carrier before year-end as indications emerged here this Sunday evening that government is yet to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governing the pact with South African Airways as core investor and technical partner of the new airline. Impeccable sources here disclosed that SAA has obtained approval of both its board and government to forge ahead with the venture, and now awaits the pleasure of the Federal Government to do same before it can become a binding deal.

The source said, "as we understand it, the Nigerian Aviation Ministry is expected to invite us to come and sign the MOU, and we now await that pleasure before we can move on." Advertorials published in national newspapers earlier in the year indicated a timetable that was to be adhered to in implementing steps towards the birth of the new airline. The advertorials, sponsored by a firm, Financial Derivatives, indicated that the airline should be airborne by end of second quarter of this year. The firm is consultant to the Federal Ministry of Aviation.

Aviation Minister, Isa Yuguda had given assurances on arrival from a working trip to Lufthansa offices in Germany that the government is set to sign the MOU and the airline will take off at the end of the second quarter. Already, vacancy adverts have been published in Nigerian papers to which there've been responses. As a result, pilots and cabin crews have been selected, brought to SAA here in South Africa and screened for appointment.

SAA has been sending teams of officials to Lagos to audit various aspects of the technical and airport parts of the deal in order to develop a clearer picture of the operating environment. SAA's deal with Nigeria is said to be in the spirit of NEPAD, of which both Presidents Obasanjo and Mbeki are the driving champions on the continent. Air Tanzania is a recent beneficiary of this drive, which is back in the air following acquisition of 49% equity in the carrier. An SAA project team that will midwife the new national carrier is already on ground and working with Financial Derivatives and the Aviation Ministry to get the carrier off the tarmac.