No fewer than four domestic airline operators have started lobbying the nation’s aviation authorities for approval to use Minna Airport in Niger State.
This is despite the controversy over the choice of Kaduna Airport by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), as Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is being repaired.
Agitations for the choice of Minna instead of Kaduna was further boosted when two airlines operated chartered flights also planned to leverage on the recent lift of ban on usage of helicopters within Abuja air space to airlift passengers to Minna, Niger State capital.
A source close to one of the local airlines told our correspondent in Minna over the weekend about on-going talks among five local airline operators to get approvals from aviation authorities to enable it open ticketing offices and extend operational routes to Minna instead of Kaduna.
“Four of the airline operators have already perfected plans and have intensified lobbying aviation authorities for approval to open offices and make use of Minna Airport because the choice of Kaduna Airport is a very unpopular decision by the federal government”, he said.
According to the source, “We are in business and all we are trying to do is how we can protect our business and also not to lose customers traveling to northern states. We have visited Minna and it happens to have one of the best runways in Nigeria and it is very spacious.
“Going to Kaduna is almost twice the time spent traveling to Minna from Abuja. Apart from better and spacious runway to accommodate both local and international planes, we are trying to keep our customer base as many of them have expressed fears over security situation in Kaduna.
“From aviation sources we learnt that close to 5, 000 domestic and international flights enter Abuja on a daily basis but not up to half of this number are willing to fly Kaduna.”
He added, “this and many more prompted their resolve to commence moves on the possibility of opening up Minna route for their operations.”
Apart from many flights being cancelled due to the choice of Kaduna, the source further explained that all but one international eirline, Ethiopian Airline, were opposed to the choice of Kaduna as an alternative airport to Abuja and this has affected customer patronage.
“As at the last count four airlines have made case and will prefer to use Minna Airport instead of Kaduna. Its proximity to Abuja, the facilities on ground and the renovation work on the airport by Niger State government are the reasons advanced by the airlines”, a Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) staff said.
About a week ago, the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, made unscheduled visit to Minna Airport on his way to Abuja following the closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Meanwhile, Niger State government is making effort to put finishing touches to the on-going renovation at the Minna Airport, should the federal government reconsiders it as an alternative to Abuja instead of Kaduna which is being rejected by most airline operators.
Apparently to command support from stakeholders, Niger State government has intensified efforts at the on-going repair of the Minna-Suleja road as a way of attracting support for the use of Minna airport in place of the federal government’s preferred Kaduna Airport.
