Passengers now face disruptions to their Easter travel plans following the emergency closure of Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu. They also face the crucial decision on alternative airports to choose from with Anambra offering a shorter route by road to Enugu compared to Asaba.
The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) announced early Saturday that Enugu airport would be temporarily shut down for emergency runway repairs after discovering a sudden and significant rupture in the asphalt surface at a critical section of the runway. According to FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, the closure is necessary for safety reasons, and flights will be redirected to nearby airports during repairs.
In response, domestic airlines have quickly diverted their Enugu-bound flights to two alternative airports which are the Chinua Achebe Airport in Anambra State and Asaba International Airport in Delta State.
United Nigeria Airline announced that effective Saturday, April 19th, all its Enugu flights have been suspended and rescheduled to operate through Chinua Achebe Airport in Anambra, while Air Peace has opted to divert its operations to Asaba International Airport.
For affected passengers who would have to continue to Enugu by road, the choice of alternative airport makes a difference in journey time. According to Google Maps data, passengers arriving at Asaba Airport face approximately 160-170 kilometers of traveling by road to reach Enugu, a journey that typically takes three to four hours by car. The route requires crossing the Niger Bridge from Asaba into Onitsha before continuing through the Onitsha-Enugu expressway.
But passengers diverted to Anambra airport have a shorter journey of approximately 100-110 kilometers to Enugu which would require only about two hours by car. The most direct route takes travelers from Umueri where the airport is located toward Enugu using the Onitsha-Enugu expressway. This shorter distance is due to Anambra airport’s position east of the Niger River, making it geographically closer to Enugu.
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