MMA2 @17: No date yet for regional flights — Operator

Seventeen years after the commencement of operation, the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd (BASL), operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), has expanded the terminal with over 10,000 guests, including passengers and concessionaires, using the terminal daily.

This is just as the management disclosed that there is no date yet for the commencement of regional operation which has dragged on in the last 10 years and over N600m investment.

Briefing newsmen in Lagos to commemorate the 17th anniversary of MMA2, the Acting Chief Operating Officer, Oluremi Jibodu, stated that from starting with one airline 17 years ago, no fewer than 10 airlines now operate from the terminal.

Daily Trust reports that the MMA2 was concessioned to BASL, owned by businessman and legal luminary, Dr Wale Babalakin, SAN, during the administration of then president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.

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Responding to questions at the briefing, the acting chief operating officer, Jibodu, insisted the concession period was for 36 years even as he disclosed that the commencement of regional flights is still in the offing.

In the last 17 years, he stated that the public-private partnership (PPP) model brought about “operational efficiency” at MMA2 and “fostered collaboration with private entities/…”

 “The first airline that departed its aircraft from our runway, was Chanchangi Airline Flight NCH 334, with aircraft registration number 5N BEU, which lifted 70 passengers and departed at exactly 17:15 on May 7, 2007. This opened the skies for numerous departures from our terminal.

“Today, we have a total of 10 domestic airlines flying out of our terminal daily: Ibom Air, Valuejet, Air Peace, Arik Air, Aero Contractors, Dana Air, United Nigeria Airlines, Azman Air, Max Air and Rano Air. We play host to over 10,000 guests every day at this terminal, including passengers, stakeholders, concessionaires, and many others who come here to shop, eat, and fly,” he said.