Int’l flights: Resumption date to be out soon – FG

The Federal Government says the date for the resumption of international flights in the country will be announced soon.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made this known on Monday during a briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

Responding to a question about the likely date for the resumption of international flights, the minister said, “The (date for) international (flights) will follow today. Before the end of the day, we’ll be receiving directives or suggestions, practices, and standards from the International Civil Aviation Organisation. We’ll factor that in.

“Currently, I am the Chairman of the Logistics and Transport Committee of the West African Ministers to advise Mr President who is Champion of the COVID-19 within West Africa. Today, we held a meeting on how the industry will start up all over again.

“Some countries will run faster than others but I can tell you that huge countries with huge population and huge aviation activities such as Nigeria will definitely need caution which has to reflect on safety and efficiency of the industry.”

Earlier, the PTF National Coordinator, Sani Aliyu, asked the aviation sector to begin to develop protocols that will lead to the resumption of domestic flights any time from June 21.

“The aviation industry is requested to start developing protocols to allow for domestic flights to resume anytime from the 21st of June onwards.

“Airlines must ensure physical distancing by reducing passenger capacity and ensure the provision of sanitisers and personal protective equipment as well as carrying out temperature checks at the point of entry and departure and ensuring that airports are not congested by either travellers or airports staff,” he said.