Runway closure: Airline passengers to experience flight delay — Stakeholder
By Seun Ibiyemi
Following the closure of Murtala Muhammed Airport domestic runway for 90 days, stakeholders in the Aviation sector have shown concerns as airline passengers may experience flight delay.
This is expected, as the domestic runway of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos will be completely closed for three months to enable some repairs and installation of Air Field Lighting to be done.
In a chat with Nigerian NewsDirect, a stakeholder in Aviation sector, Mr John Ojikutu said that airlines usual day flights on that runway will be affected by time because of the transition time of taxiing from the terminals to runway 18R.
“Passengers will experience delay due to the transition time plus additional time if there are traffic from the international terminal departures and arrivals
“Installation of the lightnings can not be for the runway alone without the approach lightnings and landing lightnings like the PAPI, etc. All these require pre Installation works like the calibration or the surveying of the installation areas.
“I don’t know how many hours a day the work is being planned for but I believe if the work is extended into the hours of the night the time for the job can get reduced by 40 to 50 days.
“However, they can improve the rate of their night landing flights if they can manage the transition between the runway and the passengers terminal buildings.”
Recall that Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), confirmed the runway closure in a statement, which was issued by the Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs. Faithful A. Hope-Ivbaze on Wednesday.
It stated, “As part of efforts aimed at improving safety and efficiency of flight operations at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has concluded arrangements to complete the installation of CAT III Airfield Ground Lighting system on Runway 18L/36R. The project, which will commence effectively on Friday, July 8, 2022, is expected to last for 90 days.
“Consequently, Runway 18L/36R will be closed to flight operations during this time. However, stakeholders are to note that there will be no disruption. All normal flight operations will be conducted through runway 18R/36L. A NOTAM (Notice to Air Men) to this effect has already been published and disseminated accordingly.”
