By Amos Tauna
Kaduna International Airport in northwest Nigeria has, since the diversion of flights from Abuja International Airport recorded a total 3,533 of aircrafts movement in and out of the airport from Thursday, 9th March, 2017 to Wednesday, 12th April, 2017.
The manager of the airport, Mrs. Amina Uzi Salami, while speaking in Kaduna Thursday at the presentation of award of excellent organized by Kaduna Integrity Group to airlines and other participants that contributed in making the flight operations successfully said there was a total of 170,150 passengers movement in and outside the airport within the same period.
On a daily average, she explained that there was 101 aircrafts movement and 4,861 passengers movement in and out the airport.
Mrs. Salami stated that Ethiopian Airline was the only foreign airline that is operating in Kaduna Airport, stressing that other domestic airlines such as Arik, Azman, Dana Air, Aero, Air peace, First Natiob, Overland, Medview and other charter airlines are in operation in Kaduna.
She noted that Abuja to Kaduna train carries 18,794 passengers from 8th to 29th March, 2017 with 21 round trips, adding that the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, operates three daily return schedule service from Idu, Abuja to Kaduna except on Saturdays and Sundays.
The manager expressed delight with the efforts put in place by the federal government, minister of state for Aviation and the Kaduna State governments for making the flight diversions a reality, pointing out that it has proved many doubting thomas wrong of the wrong perception that Kaduna Airport could not host the world in the aviation industry.
She commended the security plan put in place by the security agents to ensure the safety movement of people to and fro Abuja throughout the period, noting that the momentum would be maintained after the completion of the Abuja International Airport runways.
The manager maintained that there were other facilities that were improved upon prior to the flight diversion from Abuja to Kaduna, assuring that it would go a long way to improve the standard of Kaduna Airport and the service provided to users.
Also contributing, Captain Muhammadu Joji, noted that the choice of Kaduna Airport by the federal government to enable Abuja International Airport runways to be repaired was not a mistake, assuring that the flight diversion has further opened Kaduna to the international community for business and international relations.
