Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, has said that plans are on high gear to resume international flight operations at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano; Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu; and Port Harcourt International Airport.
Sirika revealed this at the weekly media briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.
According to him, members of the PTF will be visiting the airports for simulation to ascertain their readiness for international operations.
The minister noted that a technical working group comprising agencies involved in the facilitation of passengers had been set up to ensure that all standards required for seamless operations at the airports earmarked for resumption of international flights were on place.
Speaking on the suspension of Emirates Airlines in Nigeria, Sirika said discussions were on to resolve the issues involved.
He, however, restated the country’s position on the impropriety of extra COVID-19 tests the airline was demanding of Nigerian travellers.
Sirika announced that catering services suspended at the onset of the pandemic would resume on domestic flights immediately.
The decision, he added, was taken in consideration of the businesses involved in the provision of in-flight refreshments, which had been adversely affected by the suspension.
He also said that modalities and protocols for the resumption of the services would be rolled out by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, in line with international best.
