TheCable

On Wednesday, Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja reopened after months of lockdown — but not without a great cost.

Only a few airlines were operating when TheCable visited the two airports on Wednesday including Air Peace, Arik Air, Ibom Air and Max Air.

Ticket prices have gone over the roof while strict measures are in place to ensure social-distancing guidelines.

While the Air peace economy ticket for a 4pm flight to Lagos was for N33,000, the business ticket was for N90,000, according to the attendant at the ticket point.

For the same route, Max Air goes for the same price for the economy class, but for its business class the price was N65,000.

Not many passengers arrived to check in for over two hours TheCable was at the airports. Those who were travelling had their luggage decontaminated.

Contrary to the guidelines the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), some persons who were not travelling were being allowed into the terminal building.

But anyone without face masks — even if they had face shields — was turned back right at the terminal.

Screening for high temperature, a major symptom of COVID-19, was also being done while signs were indicated on the floor at strategic points to enforce social distancing.

Hand sanitisers were also kept at various points, though passengers were not being compelled to use them.

Some of the business operators at the airports, including shop owners and taxi drivers, complained of little or no patronage since they reopened.

Below are photos.

Ticket point at Murtala Muhammed airport, local wing

Airport health official with a thermometer

A passenger’s temperature being checked at Abuja airport

A passenger’s bag being disinfected by airport health official

A passenger at Abuja airport with a face shield

Temperature check at Murtala Muhammed Airport

Social distancing signs at Abuja airport

Thank you for practicing ‘social distancing’, the signs say in Lagos

A passenger arrives at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, local terminal

Kids observe social distancing at Abuja airport

Security officials at the airport

Information display at Lagos airport

An official of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) disinfects a passenger’s luggage at the entrance of Murtala Muhammed Airport during resumption of domestic flight operations in Lagos on Wednesday.

Passengers boarding a commercial plane at the Murtala Muhammed Airport

Passengers check in to board the first flight to kick start domestic flight resumption at the Murtala Muhammed Airport on Wednesday

Passengers boarding the first flight to kick start domestic flight resumption

Photo credit: NAN and TheCable