After airport shutdown, domestic airlines suspend, reroute Enugu-bound flights

Domestic airlines have announced the suspension of scheduled flights to Enugu, following the closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport by the federal government.

Ibom Air, in a statement on Saturday, said it would suspend all flights to or from Enugu between April 19 and May 6, with operations set to resume on May 7.

“Consequently, all Ibom Air flights to and from Enugu will be suspended during this period, to resume on the 7th of May,” the statement reads.

“Passengers scheduled to travel to or from Enugu within these dates will be contacted by our Customer Service Team to arrange alternative options or rebooking.”

The airline advised affected passengers to check their emails and SMS regularly for updates or contact its call centre for support.

Similarly, United Nigeria Airlines said its Enugu flights would temporarily operate in and out of Chinua Achebe Airport in Anambra, pending the completion of the repair works and reopening of the airport.

“This proactive adjustment is aimed at minimizing disruptions to your travel plans while maintaining our commitment to safety, comfort, and seamless service delivery,” the airline said.

On its part, Air Peace raised concerns that some individuals are exploiting the situation to defraud unsuspecting passengers.

The airline said rerouting Enugu-bound flights to alternative airports free of charge, urging passengers to remain vigilant.

“Kindly note that the rerouting of Enugu-bound flights to alternative airports-Asaba, Owerri, or Anambra is free of charge (at no extra cost), in line with our operational procedures and the Terms and Conditions of your flight ticket,” Air Peace said.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had announced the temporary closure of the airport to allow for emergency repairs on a section of the runway.

The authority said the shutdown, which would take effect from April 22 through May 6, became necessary following the discovery of a “sudden and significant rupture in the asphalt surface at a critical section of the runway”.