The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has introduced that the Murtala Muhammed Worldwide Airport, Runway 18R and 36L, Lagos, will probably be shut for eight weeks down for upkeep.

The Runway 18R and 36L is particularly devoted for worldwide flights. Following the event, the Federal Authorities has diverted all worldwide flights to Runway 18L and 36R positioned on the home wing of the Lagos airport. The Runway 18L is devoted for native flights.

FAAN in an announcement on Monday confirmed that Taxiway B-18L can be used as an alternative for all flight operations till upkeep was accomplished.

Nevertheless, stakeholders have expressed divergent views over the event.

The President of the Affiliation of International Airways and Representatives in Nigeria, Kingsley Nwokoma, mentioned, “In case you go into the historical past of runway closures, there’s by no means been a time we’ve got two runways operating concurrently for a very long time.

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“FAAN just lately labored on one and we had assumed we had a long-lasting answer however now we’re again to sq. one. After all, when you don’t have two runways working concurrently, visitors will probably be affected as regular; there will probably be numerous boarding as each worldwide and native flights will probably be on the identical runway.

“My recommendation is that no matter they’re doing, eight weeks must be eight weeks. International airways hope that this will probably be a last answer after which we will have two runways operating concurrently for a very long time like we see in different climes which have extra two runways.”

Talking with our correspondent on this new improvement, an business knowledgeable and former Director of Normal Aviation on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Ayodele Sasegbon, hailed the upkeep transfer by FAAN however famous that the company should hold to the stipulated schedule

He hopes FAAN has learnt to handle the ‘make shift’ runway higher than it did final yr when it shut the runway to repair airfield lighting.

Aviation knowledgeable, Capt. James Daniel, mentioned, “If FAAN is closing down the worldwide runway which is barely longer, I consider the opposite runway is of ample size to accommodate larger plane.

“I don’t see that having a significant affect. Clearly, there will probably be delays in flights due to the additional variety of plane flying off the opposite runway so it could clearly improve delays. The first challenge is the delay it should create of the visitors congestion.”