Nigeria plans to resume international flights at three more airports
The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has said plans are underway to resume international flight operations at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu and the Port Harcourt International Airport.
Sirika said members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 would visit the airports for simulation exercises to ascertain their readiness for international operations.
He said a technical working group comprising agencies involved in the facilitation of passengers had been set up to ensure compliance with all standards required for seamless operations at the airports before the resumption of international flights.
The minister also announced that catering services, which were suspended at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, should resume on domestic flights immediately.
Speaking at the weekly media briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday, he said the decision was taken in consideration of the businesses involved in the provision of in-flight refreshments which had been adversely affected by the suspension.
He, however, said modalities and protocols for the resumption of the services would be worked and rolled out by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority in line with international practices.
On the suspension of Emirates Airlines operations in Nigeria, Sirika said discussions were on to resolve the issues involved, even as he restated the country’s position on the impropriety of the extra COVID-19 tests the airline was demanding of Nigerian travellers.
