The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has approved the resumption of domestic flights from the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Kano, Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa and Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri.
The approval followed announcement by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on easing and restart of the second phase of the COVID-19 lockdown and commencement of scheduled operations on June 21.
The director general of NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu, disclosed the development on Wednesday in a letter marked NCAA/DG/Air/11/16/121 and addressed to the accountable managers of all the domestic and foreign airlines in the country.
The director general also stated that the 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 restart of the second phase of the COVID-19 lockdown and restart of flights on June 21, 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 said.
He added that all flights to any airport outside the approved ones should comply with the existing COVID-19 Protocols for approvals.
He also said the closure of Nigerian airports to international flights would continue until a date of resumption is announced.
Nuhu said emergency and essential flights were exempted from the restriction but should comply with the existing COVID-19 protocols for approvals.
