Ethiopian airlines considering maintaining flight to Kaduna – official

The management of Ethiopian Airlines, says it will consider the possibility of continuing separate flight schedule to Kaduna International Airport after the re-opening of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on April 19.

Mrs Firiehiwot Mekonnen, the Traffic and Sales Manager of the airline made this known to our reporter in Abuja on Thursday.

Mekonnen said that Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna had begun discussion with the airline to that effect.

According to her, El-Rufai has requested that Ethiopian Airlines should continue separate flight to Kaduna even after the reopening of Abuja airport.

“The management is still considering the possibility and will come with its decision on that before the reopening of Abuja airport.

“If the option is good, we will go ahead with our operation there.

“We met with the governor today at the Kaduna State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja and we discussed extensively.

“The discussion was to see if it is possible to continue separate flight to Kaduna even after Abuja airport is opened,’’ she said.

Mekonnen also said that the airline had started operating full flight from Kaduna since the beginning of last week, recording 286 passengers daily.

She explained that the passengers had adjusted to the arrangement of flying out through Kaduna, adding that Ethiopian airlines had recorded great success in its Kaduna operation.

“We have been having full flights from Kaduna since last week and even today, tomorrow and next, our flights are already fully booked,’’ she said.

The Federal Government had on March 8, shut the Abuja airport for six weeks for rehabilitation of its failed runway and diverted all Abuja-bound flight to Kaduna airport.

The Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika had on Tuesday announced that the rehabilitation work was 96 per cent completed and assured of the reopening of the airport on schedule.

However, many airlines, especially the international airlines that have refused to fly to Kaduna are already planning to return their operations to the airport from April 19.

One of such airlines is Lufthansa which has announced its flight schedule for April 20.

Also, Emirate Airlines, which suspended its Abuja operation before the closing of the airport said it was committed to its Nigerian market and expressed hope of reassessing its Abuja operation going forward.

According to the spokesperson for the airline, Ijioma Oseji, hopes that the airline will be able to reassess its Abuja operations going forward based on future market and operating conditions.