NCAA announces five approved airports as domestic flight operations resume in Nigeria

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has named five airports where flights will resume on June 21, as announced by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

NCAA Director-General, Capt. Musa Nuhu, made the announcement in a letter to Accountable Managers of all domestic and foreign airlines in the country with ref NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/121, in Lagos on Wednesday.

Nuhu said the five airports are Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja, Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Kano, Omagwa International Airport, Port Harcourt and Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri

The director-general said in the letter that other airports would be added gradually to flight operations after a review and assessment.

“Following the announcement by Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on the easing of and the start of the second phase of the COVID-19 lockdown, we wish to inform the industry of the following.

“The closure of Nigerian airports to domestic flights has been extended to 2300Z on 20th June 2020.

“The gradual start of domestic flight operations will commence on June 21 with Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja, Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Kano,

“Others are Omagwa International Airport, Port Harcourt, and Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri while other airports will be gradually added to the network after a review and assessment.

Nuhu noted that all flights to any airport outside the above five listed airports above should comply with the existing COVID-19 Protocols for approvals.

The director-general said the closure of Nigerian airports to international flights would continue until the date of resumption is announced.

Nuhu said emergency and essential flights were exempted from the restriction and should comply with the existing COVID-19 protocols for approvals.