11 months after, FAAN reopens MMIA runway

Relief came the way of airline operators yesterday as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) reopened the runway 18R 36L of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The runway, which serves international flights, was shut down in March 2023 for five weeks for routine maintenance.

In the course of the maintenance, the airfield lighting (AFL) at the runway was stolen making the runway unserviceable.

The runway was shut for almost a year, causing inconveniences to airlines as international flights take off and land at the alternative runway 18L 36R, which is shorter in length and used to serve only domestic flights.

During the period of the shutdown, many foreign airlines using wide-bodied jumbo jets were forced to reduce their passenger and cargo load to manage to take off.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, stated last month that there was some delay with the reopening of the runway and promised it would be reopened very soon.

She said: “The 18R runway, we did have some delays actually; coming onboard, we have asked the contractors to return to site immediately and we also engaged the AON and informed them of our plans to reopen the runway because we will be opening. We have coordinated and engaged with NAMA as well as NCAA of our plans to actually open that runway.”

The reopening of the runway however became a reality yesterday, ending the 11-month woe of foreign airlines. Our correspondent learnt that a notice to airmen (NOTAM) was issued to that effect.

As at the time of filing this report on Saturday, international flights like Delta, Kenya Airways, among others took off from the runway.

When contacted, the Regional Manager, South West, FAAN and MMIA Manager, Mr Ayodele Sunday, confirmed the reopening of the runway and said flight operations had started immediately from the runway.