FG Approves Ethiopian Airlines Enugu-Addis Ababa Flight Operations

Stella Oduah, minister of Aviation,  has confirmed that Africa’s major carrier, Ethiopian Airlines will kick off its inaugural flight from Enugu to Addis Ababa, the East African nation’s capital on this week.

This marks the first international flight operation from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport since it was designated by the federal government as the only international airport in the South East zone and as part of the aviation master plan of this administration, which gives every zone an opportunity to grow to its full potential in economic and social development.

The minister of Aviation has also confirmed that she has written a letter to the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, informing him about the historical flight which will arrive the Enugu airport by 12.30 pm and depart by1:30 pm local time in the four times weekly operation from the Coal City, largely regarded as the capital of the South East zone.

The operation of Ethiopian Airlines into Enugu will be the satisfaction of an enduring call from the people of the South East who have for many years clamoured for an international airport for the zone, which they believe will reinforce the resourcefulness of the people, who are known for their entrepreneurship  and trade.

Henceforth businessmen and other travellers from Enugu, Aba, Abakaliki, Onitsha, Owerri, Umuahia and as far as Asaba and Benin will be saved the distress of travelling for hours to Lagos and Abuja to catch international flights, trips that are sometimes fraught with problems, including dangers on the road as they fight for time to catch their flights to international destinations.

Many of the passengers have lost their goods on transit as they convey them from these cities to their final destinations on their arrival from their overseas trips.

Yakubu Dati, general manager, Corporate Communication, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN said that the Jonathan administration has fulfilled his promise of giving every part of the country equal opportunity to develop and realise its dreams, adding that few months ago the President unveiled the domestic terminal at the airport and also laid foundation for the building of international terminal, which work is in progress.

Dati also went down memory lane to disclose that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu was designed and built by Dr Alex Ekwueme, former Vice President at the age of 26, remarking that it is historical that his vision of many years ago is now being fulfilled.

“This minister of Aviation has shown her determination to actualise the goals of the aviation master plan which the Jonathan administration has pegged its transformation agenda which objectives include giving every part of the country and every citizen the opportunity to grow to his full potential. With the international flight operations at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, a novel opportunity has been given to the people of the South East zone to expand their business horizon without stress and the inconveniences of having to travel far to catch international flights”, He said.

Ikech Uko, travel expert described the operation of international flights from Enugu airport as opening up a business hub which was latent in the past and predicted that other airlines from the Middle East, Africa would soon start operation from Enugu, thereby making the Coal City a sub hub for international commercial flights for business.