Restarting air travel: Five airlines earn clean bill of health

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Presidential Task Force, PTF on COVID-19, on assessment tour of Lagos Airports. Precursor to a sacrosanct date for opening the nation’s sky

As the air transport industry excitedly resumes flights operation today, five of the eight domestic operators that have gotten the regulatory authority’s “approval to return to service” will position for a restart at both terminal one and two of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.

Moreover nearly all the airlines have also embarked in different forms of media awareness for the general public to avail themselves of renewed service to air traveler under a newly covid-19 safety protocol regime.

Airlines already armed with approval to return to service beginning from today are, Aero, Air Peace, Arik, Azman and Dana. They have no doubt done a yeo-mans job in fulfilling all righteousness to be found worthy of returning to the air space.

The industry’s scorecard was presented yesterday to stakeholders at an interactive forum assembled by the Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu, where readiness of each of the players in the entire gamut of the aviation value chain was presented.

The DG noted that all the eight airlines were on course, only that they all cannot at once and at the exact time earned the clearance as approvals will not be unduly withheld. He added that as the reopening progresses, more airports will be opened and more airlines will come on stream.

However, Captain Musa Nuhu, singled out Arik airline for going beyond the minimum requirement in satisfying the conditionalities to earn the nod for a restart. The airline no doubt effectively and efficiently fulfilled the covid-19 safety protocols for both passengers and staff by acquiring in sufficient quantities, Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, and the personnel training in accordance with advisories from. ICAO- CART, WHO and IATA.

All the airports concerned in the initial reopening scored 94% each. Indicating they’re all good to go. Murtala Muhammed Airport terminal two, Ikeja, Lagos MMA2, 94%, Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA Kano 94%, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja 94%. The ground handlers made an impressive showing with good scores. Nahco was singled out for conduction training for about 2000 of its personnel so to be compliant with the new normal