By Suleiman Idris
Nigerian leading carrier, Air Peace has described the decision of the federal government to close the Enugu airport to allow for a proper repair and maintenance of the airports runway that has hitherto given airlines serious safety concerns as a laudable one.
It said the airline is fully and totally in support of this decision even though the flying public and airlines will experience setbacks, it affirmed that the safety of the flying public, airline crew and equipment should be place above any commercial benefits.
“The government should go all out to put everything in place, within the period of the closure, that would make the airport rank among the best international airports in the country. We plead with the Federal Government to make the airport a 24hr flight operations airport by improving the night landing infrastructure.” A statement signed by the Chairman, Mr. Allen Onyema told reporters in Lagos.
He added that “We will not fail to thank the Federal Government for the appointment of Capt. Yadudu as the Managing Director of FAAN. His appointment is a testimony to the Federal Government’s resolve to put result driven persons at the helm of its agencies. Air Peace is not alone in this thought. Since his coming, airlines have started enjoying the services that would definitely improve the standards in the industry.
We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his resolve to attend to the infrastructural decay in the industry.”
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had notifies airlines, passengers and all other stakeholders that effective 00:00 on 24th August, 2019, the runway at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu will be closed for major repairs and works on the airfield.
FAAN said the move is aimed at resolving the existing Safety and Security concerns to flight operations into the airport while a date to reopen the runway will be communicated in due course.
