The chairman House of Representatives committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji has disclosed that international flight operations is set to resume at the Akanu Ibiam international Airport, Enugu soon.
Disclosing this at the just concluded League of Airport and Aviation Correspondent, LAAC seminar in Lagos on Wednesday, July 28, Nnaji stated that the House is waiting for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to sign off on that, adding that the Committee has already taken it to that point where they expect the federal government to announce the resumption of flights.
According to Nnaji: “We believe that international operations supposed to resume at Enugu airport on July 29. It was waiting for the NCAA to sign off but we have already taken it to that point where we expect the federal government to announce the resumption of flights.”
Hon. Nnaji said the House would want the Central Bank of Nigeria to create a window for Forex for domestic airlines in the country because it will help reduce the airfares.
He stated that since the airline operators buy most of their stuff abroad, it is important that they have access to forex.
The planes need to be in the sky all the time because the more you move, the more money you make so that you can pay your bills, he added.
Nnaji stated further that: “For now, I don’t know how the ban on Forex to BDCs will affect airlines but I heard that the black market rate has gone up. I still wonder if banks can manage but from next week, we will get to know how airlines will be affected”.
Meanwhile, there are indications that Ethiopian Airlines, the only international airline operating in and out of Enugu is waiting for official communication from the federal government through the Presidential Taskforce on Covid on when international flight operations will commence at the airport to determine when to restart its operations at the airport.
