National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
OlabodeAdaramola
No fewer than four domestic airline operators are pressing forapprovals from aviation authority to make use of Minna Airport despite thepreference and insistence of the Federal government for the use of KadunaAirport.
This request is coming on the heels of challenges beingencountered by airline operators due to the closure of Nnamdi AzikiweInternational Airport, Abuja for repairs of the runway by the federalgovernment and the diversion of all Abuja bound flights to Kaduna Airportpending the completion of the repairs on the runway of Abuja airport.
Aviation source who spoke to the our Correspondent on Monday inMinna on the condition of anonymity said over 5, 000 domestic andinternational flights to Abuja may have been cancelled due to the choice ofKaduna, as all but one international airline and some domestic operators were allegedly opposed to the alternative airport.
It was further gathered at the weekend that the four airlineoperators are pressing for Minna Airport in view of its standard runway, whichis adjudged as one of the best in the country and for the renovation efforts onthe facility by the Niger state government.
It was further gathered that the operators also advanced Minna’sproximity to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the massive repairs onMinna-Suleja Road being carried out by the state government for their choiceover the Kaduna Airport.
Two of the airlines that operate chartered flights planned toleverage on the recent lift of ban on usage of helicopters within Abuja airspace to airlift their passengers to the capital city from Minna.
