Relief has finally come the way of airline operators in Nigeria as the domestic runway which was shut down in May for the installation of airfield lighting (AFL) has been reopened.
This followed the completion of the installation on the 2.7-kilometre 18L/ 36R runway which was re-commissioned in 2008 after refurbishment and rehabilitation.
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Since 2008, operators had used the runway without the AFL which allows aircraft to take off and land at night while arriving flights had been landing at the international runway anytime from sunset after which the aircraft would taxi to the domestic terminal.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had shut down the runway on July 7, 2022 for 90 days to install the equipment comprising approach lights, Runway Lights (Threshold and Centre, edge light and others so that it can return to full 24/7 operations.
However, after three months and three days, the runway has been reopened with a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) already issued by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) intimating airline operators of the new development.
The NOTAM A0441/22 NOTAMC A0439/22 emanated from the Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) of NAMA.
Already, the newly reopened runway had recorded its first departure with Air Peace flight P4 7420 operated to Kano on its B737 aircraft which was airborne at 1618hrs.
