Arik, Aero cancel all flights from Abuja as airport remains shut

The two major functional domestic airlines in Nigeria, Aero Contractors and Arik Air, have cancelled all their flights from Abuja airport on Thursday.

This is due to the shutdown of the airport by aviation authorities since early Thursday morning.

The airlines announced the cancellations to hundreds of passengers gathered at the Abuja airport. The passengers are currently queuing to reschedule their flights.

“We are queuing up to reschedule our flights after the cancellation,” Charles Musa, an Aero passenger told PREMIUM TIMES.

The passengers were told by airport officials that the shutdown was caused by a problem on the runway.

Though aviation authorities are yet to release an official statement on the cause of the closure, officials said that a Saudi Arabian cargo plane developed fault as it landed on the only major runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport; thus preventing planes from leaving or landing at the airport.

The airport was still shut as at 1:30 p.m.

Read more: Premium Times