Toucan Aviation, the Nigerian-based aviation company that specializes in coordinating corporate charters for executives operating in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa has constructed and opened, a purpose built guest house to provide Toucan Aviation’s crew with dedicated, private accommodation in its home-base town of Lagos, Nigeria.

The property is located within the Ikeja region of Lagos in the Governmental Reserved Area (GRA), a gated community just ten minutes from the airport. The GRA is an epicenter for government and aviation business and with its committed security team provides a reliable base for the company’s crew as they rotate through their schedules.

In a first-of-a-kind for Nigeria, the property features twelve en-suite bedrooms, a lounge with billiard table and games, swimming pool, covered outside sundeck, gym and most importantly an industrial kitchen that is home to a devoted professional chef, Thabo Trevo Shiba of Johannesburg, providing crew meals throughout the day and night.

Commenting on the investment of over half a million dollars Achuzie Ezenagu, CEO of Toucan Aviation said, “Our crew work extremely hard and need to feel rested and relaxed in comfortable, familiar surroundings so they can be at their best for their flights. For me this is an extension of resource management. If the crew feels cared for then that feeling will be returned, and they will perform better in-flight. Our international customers’ benefit from a refreshed crew, our team feels truly valued and it positions Toucan as a truly professional operator in the region.”

Service is an important part of Toucan’s operations and is reflected by the employment of a permanent set of Toucan Aviation cabin crew personally selected by Achuzie and his cabin services manager Ms Gerda du Toit. Toucan Aviation also has a team of regularly rotated, internationally qualified pilots so providing continuity for clients.

Toucan Aviation offers contract charters with a focus on attention to detail, efficiency and most importantly safety in all aspects of the value chain. Ezenagu suggests that these elements are key to providing successful contract charter. “Our business is about providing our client with the best possible service. Making an investment such as this supports that activity. It helps retain staff, ensures they are happy in their work and most importantly means they are rested and therefore increases safety aboard the aircraft,” he continues.

The opening of the crew accommodation marks a successful third year of operations for Toucan Aviation which launched into the contract charter sector in April 2011 providing services to the expanding energy sector and a burgeoning mineral market. Since then it has built a business focused on providing contract charter for the energy market with Total Exploration and Production, the French oil producer, a key account. With bases in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt Toucan has experienced year on year growth of 40% since 2011, and now operates a fleet of six aircraft including a Citation XLS, Falcon 900 EX, two Citation Sovereigns, Hawker 850 XP and a newly acquired CRJ200.