By Seun Adams
The Ministry of Aviation on Saturday said international and domestic flight operations have resumed at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The ministry in a statement gave the listing of flights that landed into Lagos as at the time of filing this report, indicating the international arrivals as at Saturday (today): British Airways BAW75 DGAA 0034 18R, Turkish Air THY6501 LTBA 0224 18R, Royal Air Maroc RAM555 GMMN 0300 18R, Arik ARA303 DGAA 0315 18R, Virgin VIR411Y EGLL 0457 18R, Arik ARA397 GBYD 0533 18R, British Airways BAW75 EGLL 0546 18R, Airpeace APK7767 GOBD 0555 18R, Asky SKK063 FKKD 0845 18R, Allied Air AJK133 FOOL 0911, Airpeace APK7585 DGAA 0950, Kenyan Air KQA532 HKJK 1046, Domestic Arrivals 15-02-2020, Arik ARA6736 DNAA 0007 18R, Dana DAN0360x DNAA 0102 18R, Dana DAN0360y DNAA 0304 18R, Nest-Oil N990EA DNAA 0648 18R, Airpeace APK7139 DNAA 0703 18L, NAF NGR931 DNAA 0719 18L, Azman AZM2310 DNKN 0756 18L, Azman AZM2321 DNAA 0811 18L, MaxAir NGL1600 DNAA 0834 18L, hiDANA DAN0352 DNAA 0838 18L, Azman AZM2318 DNKA 0846 18L, IbomAir IAN4106 DNAI 0850 18L, Airpeace APK7221 0859 18L.
The ministry stated that the diversions and cancellations as a result of highly inclement weather conditions are not peculiar to Lagos or Nigeria, but a global phenomenon.
It added that the most developed nations have been experiencing similar delays or cancellations resulting from weather vagaries.
“We also wish to re-establish the fact that the weather conditions in Lagos, and indeed every airport worldwide is not something that is noticed at the point of landing, as pilots are regularly updated during the course of the flights and therefore in a position to decide on the most appropriate airport to divert to.” The statement added.
However, it added that the Abuja airport, which has been in full operation, would have been the most appropriate for the affected airlines to divert to, if the overall interest of the Nigerian passengers was considered.
The ministry however assured of government commitment towards ensuring that full services that ensure the comfort, safety and security of air passengers are restored to normalcy, as all relevant authorities have been up and doing.