Abrupt Runway Closures Reason For Flight Delays, Cancellations– Aviation Officials

Officials in the Aviation sector have decried the reoccurring sudden runway closures at airports especially at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The airline operators blamed the sudden closure of runways as the cause of flight delays and cancellation which occurs at the airports.

Investors King reports that the main reason for the abrupt closure is the VIP movement which includes the President, Vice president and top government officials’ flights which most times are not publicly declared for security sake.

Pilots have lamented that they are most times not informed of the duration of the closures because the airlines get the notice unexpectedly which in turn affects other flight schedules.

They said what pisses them is the frequency of the runway closure which could occur twice in a day or more.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) was accused of not informing air traffic controllers of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA who usually alert pilots on duty without sending an official Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) through the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) to the large airline community.

Airline operators also highlighted the cost implication of frequent closure of the runways saying it consumes large quantity of fuel while waiting for the VIP’s movement whether on the ground or in the air.

In his explanation, a FAAN official said that the agency does not really shut the runway but basically delays other flights for the VIP planes to takeoff or land.

He said, “I don’t think they declare the airport closed. They just delay some flights until the passage of the VIP. The other day we were about to take off when our pilot told us there was VIP movement and we waited. We actually waited for long; over 30 minutes at the holding point before our flight took off. Yes, the problem is that it causes delays for travellers.  Even when that aircraft is airborne it has to wait. They will inform the pilots but no precision because you are not supposed to know the details about the movement for security reasons. So they don’t issue official NOTAM but the controllers will do radio communication.”

Speaking on the issue, the Chief Operating Officer of Green Africa, Obi Mbanuzuo stated that the closure occurs daily because of the consistency of the VIPs’ travels.

He spoke on the high cost that accompanies each delay, “ordinarily the aircraft frequently used in Nigeria, the Boeing 737 Classic aircraft could consume about five tons (about 6, 250 litres) of fuel flying from Lagos to Abuja and additional 30 minutes fuel would be added to it, which is about 1.5 tons in case the airport is sterilized (closed for VIP movement). Then there would be additional fuel for alternative airport in case of emergency. That is, more fuel is added in case a situation arises that the aircraft has to leave for an alternative airport if there is an emergency. 

“Every airline chooses its alternative airport. Flying from Lagos to Abuja an airline could choose Ilorin as an alternative airport or it could choose Port Harcourt. So the aircraft would carry additional fuel in case there is a need to go to the alternative airport. So, it is five tons from Lagos to Abuja, 1.5 tons for diversion in case there is VIP movement, which brings the volume to 6.5 tons; then another five tons for the alternative airport, which in total brings it to 11.5 tons (14, 500 litres).