Hope has once again risen for air travellers in South-South and South-East regions of the country, following the commencement or resumption of operations in Asaba International Airport, by some leading airlines in the country.
Just in a week, two major airlines announced to the public of their services in the airport, especially this Yuletide season.
BDSUNDAY learnt that AZMAN Air was in Asaba penultimate weekend on a courtesy call to Delta State Government ahead its planned commencement of flights to Asaba. The result of that visit was that the airline had its maiden commercial flights to Asaba Airport on Sunday, December 15.
Within this period, Arik Air was the second to announce its resumption of service to the airport, having stopped operations four years ago when the Federal Government downgraded the airport based on safety concerns.
Note that the Federal Government last year, upgraded the airport after the state government had fulfilled its obligations by reconstructing the runway and other facilities to international standard. The approval saw airline’s like Air Peace register its presence in the airport just as it recorded international flights involving Egypt Air.
The airport for over a year now, has hosted various airline’s to prove that travellers do not need to be afraid of their safety as pilots of the aircrafts have continued to make good remarks on the airport.
The airport last Sunday hosted the successful landing of AZMAN Air, a Boeing 737 aircraft, on its maiden commercial flight.
The aircraft marked SN-AIS touched down the airports runway at exactly 4.25 p.m. operated by Captain Ibrahim Mamman, who described the landing experience as okay and very comfortable. So far, so good, he said, adding that “This airport is one of the best airports in the country.”
In the flight was the Managing Director of the Azman Air, Faisal Abdulmunaf, accompanied by the Chief Policy Adviser to the Governor of Delta state, Sylvester Monye.
Abdilmunaf expressed delight at the commencement of operations in Delta, saying four flights a week to and from Asaba would be on Abuja route while two flights a week would be via the Lagos route.
According to him, the airline has aircraft with capacity for 148, 124 and 110 passengers at a time. He was later conducted round the airport facilities, an experience he said he greatly appreciated.
Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, described the AZMAN flight, which heralds the commencement of official use of Asaba airport by the airline as one of the pay-offs from the development efforts of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
He said with the new airline coming on board and prospects for others to join increase the flight options to and from Asaba, the investment by the governor in upgrading facilities in the airport was well made.
Monye appreciated the Managing Director of Azman Air, Abdulmunaf for the prompt way he went about getting the aircraft to commence its flight operations. “We spoke about two weeks and he called me to say they were coming to Asaba, he added.
Arik Air had revealed it was resuming flight services to Asaba Airport on Wednesday, December 18, to be operating daily flights from Lagos to Asaba.
The airline’s return to Asaba is nostalgic as the airline was the first to commence commercial flights to Asaba when the airport was inaugurated in 2011.
“Arik Air in the spirit of the Yuletide season will be increasing its frequency from Lagos to Owerri to thrice daily.
Roy Ilegbodu, Arik Air Chief Executive Officer, said the resumption of flights to Asaba is a promise kept as we had assured our esteemed customers that we will be back on the route before the Christmas festivities.
He assured air travellers of a high operating safety standards and exceptional customer service during the Yuletide and beyond.
This reporter was on ground at the airport on Sunday, December 15 and witnessed the huge number of air travellers, some arriving and others departing. Family members, friends and loved ones were also around either to see off or welcome the travellers. This was as taxi cabs were also busy dropping or picking up passengers.
One of the travellers, in an interview, expressed concern on the traffic gridlock along the Niger Bridge which he said leads to wastage of man-hours and resources.
He said the wastages experienced on the road between Asaba in Delta State and Onitsha in Anambra state was rubbishing the efforts the Delta State Government made in fixing the airport.
You have a swift and smooth air travel to Asaba only for you to be trapped at Niger Bridge because of traffic gridlock that makes you spend longer hours making the journey unnecessarily stressful.
Stakeholders say the both state governments must address the Niger Bridge traffic challenge if they really want to help travellers and businessmen on that
Aniagwu had assured the newest entrant in the airport, AZMAN Air, of availability of passengers and urged other airlines to join as passengers would not be a problem.
It is hoped that the expectations of both the air and road travellers would be met beyond the season and that the states be developed more and more to betterment of the entire citizenry.
Mercy Enoch, Asaba
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