The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has dismissed rumors of an impending shutdown of Enugu’s Akanu Ibiam International Airport, assuring Nigerians that the airport will not be closed before Christmas. FAAN stated that the runway is under regular assessment and that operations will continue without disruption.
The airport’s readiness was reaffirmed by Mr. Hillary Umunna, the Enugu Airport and South East Regional Manager, during an exclusive interview with THISDAY. He explained that while minor runway repairs were recently completed, the airport is now well-equipped to handle flight operations, bringing reassurance to holiday travelers.
According to Mr. Umunna, a significant number of flights operated smoothly from Enugu’s Akanu Ibiam International Airport on Sunday, a testament to the airport’s current state. Among the flights was an Ethiopian Airlines departure to Addis Ababa at 1:31 pm, and an Air Peace service to Lagos at 12:07 pm. Ibom Air and Green Africa Airways were also in regular operation, showcasing the airport’s resilience.
Air Peace managed a busy schedule on Sunday with flights departing from Enugu to Abuja at 8:40 am and later to Lagos at 11:50 am, Mr. Umunna confirmed. Ibom Air contributed to the active day with flights from Enugu to Lagos at 1:45 pm, followed by a trip to Abuja at 3:30 pm, signaling steady, reliable operations at the airport.
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According to Mr. Umunna, United Nigeria Airlines flew from Enugu to Lagos at 2:45 pm, followed by a flight to Abuja at 5:45 pm, with Green Africa also completing an Enugu-Lagos route. These operations underline the airport’s active status and readiness to meet traveler demand.
Umunna said that despite the peculiar issues associated with the topography where the Enugu runway was built, the facility has remained serviceable because it is always maintained by the management of FAAN.
He noted that due to the sensitive nature of airport runways, they always require continuous maintenance to be able to carry the weight of aircraft.
He disclosed that recently a technical team from the FAAN headquarters in Lagos came to inspect the runway to see if it required major work, noting that the inspectors did not indicate that any major work would be done on the facility any time soon.
The Airport Manager, however, admitted that during the rains the runway usually require more maintenance to ensure that it is safe for flight operations, adding that if there is any need for a more comprehensive work to be done at the airport runway it would be after the Christmas season.
