The United Kingdom (UK) carrier
British Airways has confirmed the airline would not be flying to Kaduna
International airport during the period of repair of the runway at the
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
The Abuja airport would be
closed for six weeks from March 8, 2017 for repairs while the federal
government designated Kaduna as the landing alternative for all Abuja-bound
flights.
However most foreign carriers
have indicated they would not be flying to Kaduna. South African Airways,
Lufthansa and lately British Airways said they are suspending Abuja flights
pending the reopening of the airport.
BA country manager, Mr. Kola
Olayinka said its decision to suspend Abuja flights temporarily was in the
interest of its customers.
According to him, many factors
were considered before arriving at the decision.
He said, “I can confirm that BA
will not be flying to Kaduna during the planned closure of the Abuja Airport.
Many factors were considered before this decision was reached.
Major ones are concerned about
the safety and security of our passengers as well as difficulties around some
key operational issues. “We are currently evaluating all options for our customers
planning to travel at that time and we will be reaching out directly to them
for information about their trip”.
Olayinka who commended the
Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika for the planned repair work
added that there are no catering services as well as the adequate technology
like the Common User Terminal Equipment, among others in Abuja.
Reacting to the development,
Secretary of Aviation Roundtable, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd) stated that
the flight diversion to Kaduna would serve as a “windfall” to domestic
airlines.
He said, “The domestic airlines
need no prompt to know that the exercise is a windfall for those among them
that have capacity in terms of fleet, air and ground crew. Those that lack
should go and source for them through buying, borrowing, hiring. The exercise
provides minimum of 20 extra flights daily to Abuja besides the normal daily
flights.”
Source:Daily Trust
Tags
Business