Lufthansa, German carrier, has ruled out the option of flying to Kaduna airport during the closure of the Nnamdi Azikwe international airport in March.
Despite criticisms from different quarters, the federal government has insisted on closing the facility for six weeks in order to carry out repair on its runway.
Kaduna airport has been chosen as alternative during the period, but quoting Lufthansa’s spokesman, Reuters said the airline has promised not to make use of Kaduna.
“We won’t fly from Kaduna during the closure of Abuja airport for six weeks,” the spokesman reportedly said on phone.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had earlier said the runway of Abuja airport has exceeded its lifespan of 21 years.
During the period of its closure, Abuja-bound passengers will have to fly to Kaduna and travel by bus to the nation’s capital, guarded by security.
Commenting on the matter, Managing Director of Julius Berger, Wolfgang Goetsch, said the airport would not have been closed if it was a case of “spot repairs” on the runway but the runway had to be closed because of a case of new construction.
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