Eight months after the domestic runway 18left at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport was shutdown for repairs, a similar scenario is playing out at the international axis of the airport as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is set to shutdown the runways 18R and 36L at the international airport for repairs.
A statement issued on Monday by the FAAN has announced plans to shutdown the the runway 18Right for a period of 8 weeks for maintenance.
FAAN in the notice announced the diversion of foreign flights to the Taxiway B-18L will while the maintenance lasts.
The Runway 18Left at the local wing of the airport was in 2022 shutdown to give room for the installation of the airfield ground lighting system absent at the local airport for over 15 years.
The closure created hardships for the domestic airlines as they were forced to
join the foreign airlines to use the runway 18/Right usually used by international airlines.
The latest shutdown according to FAAN was in line with the plan to improve improve the safety and efficiency of flight operations at the Lagos Airport.
The shutdown and the diversion of foreign airlines flights to alternate taxiway at the airport may create chaotic situation particularly at the peak periods of foreign flights.
