Akure Airport Begins Commercial Flights

February 24, 2004

Akure Airport Begins Commercial Flights
Daily Times of Nigeria, Nigeria


NINETEEN years after its commissioning by former
President Ibrahim Babangida, commercial flight
operation from Akure Airport began on Monday, with an
18-seater beach 1900D aircraft in the fleet of
Overland Airways Limited flying from Akure to Abuja.

The company, according to the Chief Executive Officer,
Captain Edward Boyo, would link business flyers from
Ondo and Ekiti states and environs directly from Abuja
daily in addition to its existing flights to Lagos,
Ibadan, Ilorin and Abuja.

Boyo said the aircraft, which was designed for short
flights, was a luxury commuter aircraft with
pressurised cabin, leather seats and interior, single
aisle sitting arrangement with large tinted windows to
give passengers a breath-taking view.

He explained that the aircraft would be flying daily
from Abuja by 8:45 a.m. to arrive Akure 9:45 a.m. and
departing Akure 10 a.m. and arriving Abuja 11 a.m.

The Overland executive director noted that the
discovery of Akure Airport was not an easy task,
expressing the hope that with abundant resources in
the two states, the operation would be a success.

Boyo said that with the commencement of commercial
operations, life was being brought into the airport,
stating that more employment would be created with the
airline’s activities in the next three months.

The Overland boss stated that the company realised
that the two states of Ekiti and Ondo were civil
service states but everybody also appreciated the fact
that time was money.

“The governors of Ondo and Ekiti states, Olusegun
Agagu and Ayo Fayose, respectively would next week
Tuesday, fly the aircraft in a commercial flight,”
Boyo stated, adding that Agagu had promised the
company his co-operation in its operation.

While commending the present state of facilities at
the airport, the executive director stressed the need
for the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to
provide shuttle buses, improved communication
equipment, navigational aids and more infrastructure
within the airport premises.

Speaking during a visit to Ondo State recently, the
Aviation Minister, Malam Isa Yuguda, said the decision
by Overland Airways was in line with the Federal
Government’s directive through the Aviation Ministry
to ensure effective utilisation of all airports in the
country.

“This airport is very dear to us, it has all the
facilities to take off and land aircraft but
unfortunately it was being underutilized,” Yuguda
lamented.

Yuguda appealed for the support of the state
government while enumerating factors hindering smooth
operations at the airport. 


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