As the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) closes today, the federal government is making efforts to persuade some foreign carriers flying to Abuja to rescind their decision not to fly to Kaduna during the six-week period for the closure of the airport.
Daily Trust reports that only Ethiopia Airline has, as of yesterday evening, indicated interest to fly to Kaduna which is the alternate airport dedicated for Abuja-bound passengers as the runway of Abuja Airport is to undergo rehabilitation.
Over 35 foreign airlines operate in Nigeria, with about 10 flying to Abuja. Airlines like Lufthansa, South African Airways, Egypt Air, British Airways, among others have rejected government’s diversion plan and restricted their operations mostly to Lagos.
The refusal of foreign carriers to fly to Kaduna is despite appeal by acting President Professor Yemi Osinbajo who visited the airport last weekend where he assured the airlines that the Kaduna measure was a temporary one.
It was, however learnt that Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, is engaging the foreign airlines to persuade some of them to rescind their decision.
There are hopes in government circles that one or two of the foreign carriers might have a change of mind.
Daily Trust gathered that the decision of foreign airlines to shun Kaduna was hinged on commercial interests with a view to optimally utilizing their resources.
A source said, “They are looking at the logistics involved in relocating their crews and manpower from Abuja to Kaduna. This is why they are restricting their operations to Lagos for those that only fly Lagos and Abuja.
“Egypt Air for instance operates to Kano apart from Lagos and so their case is understandable as they can equally serve Abuja-bound passengers from their Kano Operations.”
Mr. James Odaudu, spokesman for the Aviation minister confirmed that talks are still ongoing with some of the foreign airlines to see the possibility of convincing them to operate to Kaduna.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has clarified that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport will shutdown at midnight today and the runway repairs will commence immediately.
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