- Aviation Experts Decry Continued Closure of Warri Airport
Experts under the aegis of Aviation Round Table and Safety Initiative have called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Nigerian Air Apace Management Agency and other relevant stakeholders to urgently resolve the issues surrounding the closure of Warri airport.
The airport was closed on September 3, when NAMA withdrew its navigational services over alleged debt owed it by the management of the airport.
In a statement signed by Olumide Ohunayo, on behalf of the ART, the group expressed displeasure over the closure of the airport due to high navigational charges by NAMA.
It stated that the airport, which started as a hub for non-scheduled and charter operations, had grown to providing scheduled services which had eased pains of passengers flying to Warri and other neighbouring cities while growing the Nigerian economy in general and that of Delta State in particular.
The group said, “The ART is of the opinion that the airport is certified by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to operate scheduled flights and its tariffs approved accordingly in line with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations. Therefore, there should have been an agreement between NAMA and the operators of Warri airport on tariffs before the deployment of air traffic services.
“We advise all parties as a necessity to urgently come together and resolve all issues as stipulated in the regulations so we can ameliorate the pains of the travelling public, air operators, staff and all concerned stakeholders.”
