International Airlines to divert to Ghana, Others Over Murtala Airport Runway Repair

The Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) has disclosed that international airlines will divert to Ghana, Cotonou on the 4th-5th of June,  due to an ongoing repair at the Murtala Muhammed airport runway.

FAAN released a letter dated May 24, 2022 to the station manager at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) titled: Rehabilitation of Runway 18R/36L signed by Al-ihekwaba for Airport Manager/Regional General Manager (SW) said the runway will be closed on the weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) of 28th-29th May 2022 and 4th-5th June 2022 from 0600hours-1300hours-UTC to repair a bad patch.

The letter read,” As a result of the deplorable condition of Runway 18R/36L pavement, I wish to inform you that FAAN civil department will commence an emergency remedial work on the failed distressed pavement.

“Rehabilitation work will only be on the following weekends Saturdays & Sundays as follows: 28th-29th May, 2022, 4th-5th June, 2022 Time: 0600hours-1300hours-UTC Daily.

“Runway 18R/36L will be closed during the period of this work and Runways 18L/36R will be used for arrivals and departures. FAAN Management sincerely apologies for the inconveniences.”

Investors King obtained that several hours of delays were experienced on Saturday evening, forcing pilots to divert some local and international aircraft to Abuja, Accra (Ghana), and other airports.

A KLM flight from Amsterdam scheduled to arrive at the Lagos airport at 7 p.m. was diverted to Accra’s Kotoka International Airport.

In addition, some inbound local flights were forced to divert to Abuja and other airports due to the unexpected shutdown of the Lagos airspace.

Other planes scheduled to depart Ilorin, Benin, Port Harcourt, and other cities around the country in the late evening were postponed until after 10 p.m. when the Lagos airspace was finally opened.

International planes scheduled to depart Lagos between 7 and 9 p.m. were also delayed for several hours, with several pilots claiming that their passengers would miss their connecting flights.