Enugu airport to begin international flight operations Saturday

The Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu is set to commence its international flight activities as Ethiopian Airlines will begin a flight to Addis Ababa on Saturday.

The Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah confirmed this development in a statement by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Tuesday.

According to the statement, this would mark the first international flight operation from the airport since it was designated by the Federal Government as the only international airport in the South East.

It said it was also part of the aviation's master plan of the Gooldluck Jonathan administration, which gave every zone an opportunity to grow to its full potential in economic and social development.

The statement stressed that the minister had written to the President, informing him about the historical flight.

It added that the flight would arrive at the Enugu airport by 12.30pm on that day and depart by 1.30pm in the four times weekly operation from the Coal City, largely regarded as the capital of the South East zone.

It said, 'The operation of Ethiopian Airlines into Enugu will be to the satisfaction of the citizens of South East who have for many years clamoured for an international airport for the zone, which they believe will reinforce the resourcefulness of the people, who are known for their entrepreneurship and trade.

'Henceforth, businessmen and other travellers from Enugu, Aba, Abakaliki, Onitsha, Owerri, Umuahia and as far as Asaba and Benin will be saved the distress of travelling for hours to Lagos and Abuja to catch international flights.'

According to the statement, many passengers have lost their goods on transit as they convey them from these cities to their final destinations on their arrival from their overseas trips.