Insecurity Forces FAAN, NAMA to Stop Flight Extension For Airports Without Night Time Landing Facilities
- Nigerian airports without nighttime landing facilities will no longer be allowed to operate as sunset or sunrise airports
- The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigeria Airspace Management (NAMA) said they have agreed to implement the policy for security reasons
- About 23 airports in Nigeria operate as sunset and sunrise airports, except for a few international airports with 24-hour operations
Insecurity in Nigeria has made the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) suspend flight extension rights for some airlines flying at certain times of the day in some airports.
FAAN withdrew the rights from the airlines flying sunset and sunrise in a statement on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
Source: Getty Images
23 airports in Nigeria are without night time landing facilities
Sunset airports refer to airport terminals without nighttime landing facilities and operate between 7 am to 6 pm.
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According to reports, FAAN said that it would decline applications by airlines for an extension of operating hours to airports working earlier than 7 am and later than 6 pm.
FAAN Managing Director, Captain Rabiu Yagudu, stated this on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at the ongoing 2022 Airline and Airport Business Summit and Expo in Lagos.
The FAAN boss said that the management of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency had met with FAAN on the new directive.
New directive would not be changed
Yagudu asked stakeholders, especially airline operators, to abide by the new directive and said that the two agencies would not change the policy.
There are 28 federal and state-owned airports in Nigeria.
Except for MMA in Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, Port Harcourt Airport, Aminu Kano International Airport and the new Akanu Ibiam International Airpor in Enugu operating 24-hour services, the rest airports operate from 7 a.m to 6 p.m
Most airports lack sunset facilities and infrastructure enabling flight operations at night time.
Yadugu said:
“We have already sat down, met with the NAMA team and agreed that there is no longer a need for an extension. However, once an airport is a sunrise to sunset, it has to remain so, and all stakeholders must respect that particular provision accordingly."
Nigeria risks boycott of foreign airlines as CBN refuses to release $450 million belonging to them
Legit.ng previously reported that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) says Nigeria is withholding $450 million, about N186.750 billion belonging to the airlines.
In the statement, IATA said as of May 2022, withheld funds by Nigeria increased by 12.5 per cent month on month. This amount is representative of the total amount of foreign airlines’ revenues that cannot be taken by the airlines.
According to a Reuters report, IATA claims that the airlines are being owed about $1 billion in global revenue held by countries, showing that only Nigeria accounts for 45 per cent of the total share.
Source: Legit.ng
