Murtala Muhammed International
Airport
No
fewer than 42 private jets land at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos daily,
findings by our correspondent have revealed.
A
statement obtained by our correspondent from Nigeria’s first commercial private
jet hangar, Evergreen Apple Nigeria, on Friday indicated that it received 15
private jet fights everyday.
But
further findings on Friday from two aviation agencies, Federal Airports
Authority of Nigeria and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority showed that a total
of 1,200 private jet flights landed at the Lagos airport every month.
And
by implication, it means at least 300 of the flights are recorded every week
and 42 every day.
Of
the 1,200 private flight jets, it was learnt that 450 arrived at Evergreen
Apple hanger, while the remaining 750 jets landed at Execujets hangar and other
private hangars at the Lagos airport.
Private
aircraft movements have been on the rise in Nigeria lately due to the increase
in ownership of luxury planes.
Other
airports where there is a boom in private jet flights are Abuja, Kano and
Kaduna.
Evergreen,
which recently stated that it was monitoring the upward trends in the aviation
business, said its daily private jet movements were running to an average of 15
flights.
The
firm said its “business aviation movements have increased by over 100 per cent
year-on-year, and daily movements are running at an average of 15 daily.”
According
to the firm, flights are arriving into the FBO predominantly from Europe with
London, Ireland, Germany, Spain, France and Austria, all featuring as regular
starting points as they bring business executives into Nigeria.
It
said, “Flight arrivals from the Middle East are also growing with Dubai, Saudi
Arabia and Aman rating highest in terms of originating destinations.
“Within
the continent of Africa, the movements mirror comments operators and charter
brokers are making in terms of most active destinations. National flights
within Nigeria and from further afield including Gambia, Cameroon, Ghana and
Equatorial Guinea all reflect the increase in African business aviation
activity driven by the continent’s continued expansion of energy, mineral,
agricultural and telecom sectors.”
The
statement quoted the Chief Executive Officer of Evergreen, Mr. Segun Demuren,
as saying, “Owing to the size of the continent, the mid to heavy jets are
proving most popular at the EAN Hangar Jet Centre. Gulfstream 400/450 models,
the Bombardier Global Express family and the full range of the Bombardier
Challenger types from 601s to 850s are regularly parking up at the hangar.
“The
range of the aircraft enables business executives and government officials
travelling around Africa and further afield to the Middle East and Europe to
travel in the most convenient and efficient way.”
It
was learnt that charter operators provided the main body of traffic through the
airport but increasingly, privately owned aircraft belonging to local
entrepreneurs were also contributing to the movement figures.
In
addition, the increased movements had led to a greater demand for premium
services, Evergreen said.
PUNCH
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