NewStats: 3,262,809 , 8,178,226 topics. Date: Tuesday, 03 June 2025 at 04:36 PM 5p711l

Some airlines and cab operators have anticipated losses as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, is set be shut tonight for its runway repairs, the The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.


Abdullahi Saroke, Station Manager, Azman Airlines, told NAN that 65 per cent of flights operated from Abuja airport would likely to be cut off at Kaduna resulting in losses.


Saroke explained that many lucrative routes like Abuja-Lagos,Abuja-Enugu, Abuja-Kano and many others would be affected as many engers might decide to travel by road to those destination.

He expressed fear that airlines might run at loss at Kaduna, explaining that airlines take load factor into consideration before flying a particular route.
According to him, if you fly aircraft with 124 and 110 engers’ seats with less than 85 or 90 engers, you are running at a loss.


“From the airlines’ perspective, what I foresee will happen is that we are going to go to Kaduna but not all routes will be viable.

“Then those routes that we think will be viable from Kaduna, if you operated it and you are at lost, I am sure with no time people will just shut down their operation unless something is done.

“For these reasons, some airlines may not want to go to Kaduna except those routes that are far like Port Harcourt and Lagos but all these routes that are close to Abuja may decide to stay away.

“Statistics has shown that 65 per cent of domestic flights happened between Abuja and Lagos and this route is going to be shut down by midnight on March 8.

“What that means is that 65 per cent of this operation has been cut off remaining 35 per cent and there are so many routes you cannot operate from Kaduna and they are lucrative routes.

“Those routes are Abuja-Asaba, Abuja-Owerri, Abuja-Warri, Abuja-Port Harcourt, Abuja-Enugu and Abuja-Kano,’’ he said.

On the free transportation arrangement by the government, Saroke advised that there should be ing vehicles in the event of breakdown or tire burst since flights are time bound.

He also advised the government to take into consideration the fact that airlines would not be responsible for the engers that miss their flight since it is the government that handles their movement.

“In the event that the engers miss their flight, who pay their compensation and who takes care of their accommodation if need be since it is the government that is responsible for that?

“Those are the key areas the government did not look at because in case you want to assist somebody and the assistance failed, are you going to compensate the engers,’’ he queried.

Also, Aliyu Abdullazeez-Aliyu, Chairman, Airport Car Hires Association (ACHA), Abuja Chapter, said his would lose up to N300 million during the period.

Abdullazeez-Aliyu said that a larger number of the would be out of job during the six weeks period, adding only few of their would those at Kaduna.

He added that the association would deploy between 150 to 200 car hire to Kaduna airport to complement those operating there.
According to him, it is our Kaduna branch that is absorbing some of them from Abuja because both Abuja and Kaduna belong to one national body.

“Quantitatively, we stand to lose about N300 million to N500 million within these six weeks because our make millions of naira on daily basis here.

“Our operation will be at Kaduna within this period because of those that will prefer to travel privately but we don’t have provision in the city centre.

“There will be processing of engers in Abuja but that will be exclusively government arrangement because they are providing free buses to convey them to Kaduna,’’ he said.

https://looknaija..com/2017/03/abuja-airport-airlines-cab-operators-anticipate-loses.html

the ripple effect of this decision would be deeply far reaching.

with the way it was rushed, i think some1 is about to make some billions as profit

But where is lalasticlala sef

loss of money is more better than loss of life. They should please do a diligent job.

" He also advised the government to take into consideration the fact that airlines would not be responsible for the engers that miss their flight since it is the government that handles their movement."

well, you will be fine in a couple of weeks time

Be innovative...

The change wey we sef meet make us innovate our way around life

I think financial losses is far better than a national air disaster, I also tink abuja need anoda airport or kogi state will also be a better alternative

Every good change has a bad experience....

So!!!what should we do?leave the runway in a bad and disastrous way?please tell the cab men to go to hell.......revocation comes with lil pain

It's a gain for cab operators in kaduna, and besides its for six weeks, I know it's long, there would never be a good time to fix it, better it gets done and we are over with it

They should start another business!!

Nigeria and its daily drama.


But is it not possible for runway maintenance to be conducted within a shorter period of time to prevent long term closure?

Bad days for the Local air line industry ..I hope the vision less Buhari led govt has put in place bail out packages for airlines who would take so much loss in these 6 weeks that their corporate existence will be threatened
.

bubu cargo back

lafuria1:
It's a gain for cab operators in kaduna, and besides its for six weeks, I know it's long, there would never be a good time to fix it, better it gets done and we are over with it

Did you read the part that said airline patronage is expected to drop ?

Tazdroid:
Nigeria and its daily drama.


But is it not possible for runway maintenance to be conducted within a shorter period of time to prevent long term closure?

OAKLAND, Dec. 28, 2001 -- Oakland International Airport repaved its 10,000-foot main runway in 126 hours this year -- believed to be the fastest runway repaving in history. The hardest part? All the planning required before the repaving actually started, airport officials say as they finish analyzing the project.

SalamRushdie:



OAKLAND, Dec. 28, 2001 -- Oakland International Airport repaved its 10,000-foot main runway in 126 hours this year -- believed to be the fastest runway repaving in history. The hardest part? All the planning required before the repaving actually started, airport officials say as they finish analyzing the project.

Unreal! When would we acquire that capacity and capability? When??

Nigeria is a junkyard! Worst of it is that it is filled with people(some) whose modus operandi is to compliment mediocrity.

air travel - 0: road travel - 1

one man's loss is another's gain. God is good motors Don hammer this kind period

emperorAY:
I think financial losses is far better than a national air disaster, I also tink abuja need anoda airport or kogi state will also be a better alternative

Nigeria doesn't have world class airport. What we hv in Abuja is motor park. Let them look for land and build airport that can land A320

No pain no gain

SalamRushdie:
Bad days for the Local air line industry ..I hope the vision less Buhari led govt has put in place bail out packages for airlines who would take so much loss in these 6 weeks that their corporate existence will be threatened
.

You must say something sha

emi14:


Nigeria doesn't have world class airport. What we hv in Abuja is motor park. Let them look for land and build airport that can land A320

Antonov cargo aircraft (world biggest and heaviest aircraft )landed in the same Kaduna airport couple of years back

SalamRushdie:



OAKLAND, Dec. 28, 2001 -- Oakland International Airport repaved its 10,000-foot main runway in 126 hours this year -- believed to be the fastest runway repaving in history. The hardest part? All the planning required before the repaving actually started, airport officials say as they finish analyzing the project.

That's just 3048 meters runway even birnin Kebbi airport has a 3100 meters runway and Abuja has 3610 meters (about 12000 feet)
Airport runway repairs is not like road repairs even after repairs no aircraft can use it until ICAO come down to Nigeria and certify the runway, tarmac or even the runway lighting which is embedded on the runway/tarmac.
All these people opposing this closure when an accident happen on the same runway will be first to condemn the government for not doing the right thing at the right time

Also, Aliyu Abdullazeez-Aliyu, Chairman, Airport Car Hires Association (ACHA), Abuja Chapter, said his would lose up to N300 million during the period


You see the money this guys are making, so in 6 weeks they will loose up to 300m. But if i ask my cousin Emeka who runs my taxi at the airport he will tell me one long story and drop 35k for a week. na wa .

So make them no do the needful because of una selfish interest? Smh
We want change but I can see we ain't ready for it.
Until plane crash land before the know say suffering na temporary

arsenal33:

You must say something sha

It wasn't meant for you so shooo

scobaba:
Also, Aliyu Abdullazeez-Aliyu, Chairman, Airport Car Hires Association (ACHA), Abuja Chapter, said his would lose up to N300 million during the period


You see the money this guys are making, so in 6 weeks they will loose up to 300m. But if i ask my cousin Emeka who runs my taxi at the airport he will tell me one long story and drop 35k for a week. na wa .

u own a taxi in abj?