Ethiopian airline restores Enugu flight operations

Ethiopian Airline (ET) has picked October 1 date for the resumption of flight operations in and out of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

The additional route, after two years hiatus, brings ET’s destination in Nigeria to four. The Ethiopian national carrier is the only international airline flying the Enugu route.

General Manager of Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria, Shimeles Arage, said a Boeing 787 Dreamliner has been dedicated to operate three times a week.

ET commenced the Enugu flight services in January 2018 with its 350-seater Boeing787-900 series aircraft. The operation, like others, ran into difficulties as the runway got worn out following pressure from heavy equipment in and out of the old facility.

The airport was in August 2019 shut down for urgent repairs following safety concerns over damaged runway. Some local airlines diverted operations to the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State, and Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) in Rivers State, as alternatives to the closed airport.

The Airport was officially opened to domestic flights in 2020 and to International flights in August 2021. Arage said the international flight will initially operate on Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays of every week until a peak in traffic for daily operations.

He said: “October 1 is the Nigerian Independence day and the flight to Enugu on that day will reinforce Ethiopian Airlines’ good relationship with Nigeria since the first flight to Nigeria in 1960. Enugu is the Capital of Enugu State and was the Centre of Administration in the former Eastern Nigeria. We are happy to be back. Returning to Enugu has further deepened our services into Abuja, Lagos and Kano network.”