Ibadan Airport Development and Challenges by Limult
Ibadan Airport Development
Nigeria has about 28 airports. Twenty-three including Ibadan Airport, managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Based on research and statistics from the aviation regulatory authority, discovery shows that only three of the airports are viable.
Except the Murtala Muhammed International Airport,, Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State, none of the other airports has sufficient revenue to cover the cost of operations alone.
The Ibadan the airport is home to one terminal and an impressive 2,400-metre-long runway.
Major Challenges Behind the Development of Ibadan Airport
The airport remains largely underutilized. Only one carrier operate scheduled flights into the terminal connecting passengers between Ibadan to Abuja and Abuja to Ibadan.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says that for an airport to be viable and self-sustaining, it must have at least five million passengers annually.
Only Lagos and Abuja airports could boast of at least five million passengers annually. Ibadan Airport does not meet up to the above stated qualification.
Another key factor affecting Ibadan Airport is demand. There must be demand for air services; this drive for demand that would enable airlines to make money on the route. It is clear demand for air services into the airport is low.
It is not absolutely about the air fare structure or regime, because fares do not have to be low due to volumes.
An expert said: “Ibadan Airport is not a big airport, but FAAN is yet to adjust to the realities of modern day marketing of airports.
The airport has proximity airports including Akure and Ilorin Airports and the main hub Lagos Airport. These airports are not too far and actually competing with Ibadan Airport.
“The major attraction at the airport is the Abuja route, the only operator on that route is offering high fares. He said Ibadan Airport lack basic aeronautical facilities as the runway light only permits visual flights.
Ohunayo said after 6pm operators are not favorable disposed to operate flights because they have to pay extra charges for the runway airfield lighting to be switched on.
The Way Forward
The Oyo State Governor, has assured that his administration is trying to expand the Ibadan Airport runway.
“We believe that the airport in Ibadan should serve as a true alternative airport to Lagos. We have a project that we are incubating right now.
Also trying to expand the runway so that bigger aircraft can land in Ibadan. “We looking at Ibadan as actually becoming the hub for regional air transportation.
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