Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (IATA: ABV, ICAO: DNAA) is an international airport serving Abuja, in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. It is the main airport serving the Nigerian capital city and was named after Nigeria's first President, Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904–1996). The airport is approximately 20 km (12 mi) southwest of the city centre, and has an international and a domestic terminal that share its single runway.[5]
A new airport terminal was built in 2000 by Julius Berger, located near to the existing terminal that served both domestic and international flights. The new terminal opened in 2002 and serves international flights. The existing terminal now serves domestic flights.[6]
In November 2006, the Abuja Gateway Consortium signed a US$101.1 million contract for the management of the airport over the next 25 years. The contract included the construction of an airport hotel, private car parks, shopping malls, and a bonded warehouse, totalling US$50 million during its first five years, and additionally an upfront payment of US$10 million. According to the business plan, total investments would have amounted to US$371 million during the period of the contract. However, then-President Yar'Adua revoked the contract in April 2008.[citation needed]
In June 2009, Delta Air Lines began a route to New York City via Dakar. It operated the flight with Boeing 757s.[7][8] The following June, the carrier introduced seasonal nonstop service to New York on a Boeing 767.[9][10][11] The flight stopped in Accra as of mid-2011.[12] Delta left Abuja in 2012, citing the high cost of fuel and diminished passenger counts.[13]
Plans were invited for the construction of a second runway.[14] The contract was awarded to Julius Berger Construction Company for US$423 million, but was revoked due to the high cost. The Federal Government approved fresh bids for the construction of the second runway.
On January 4, 2017, Nigeria's Federal Executive Council backed the Ministry of Aviation's decision to close the airport for six weeks to enable repairs on the runway, which was said to be dysfunctional. The Nigerian government also approved N1 billion for the conclusion of the Kaduna Airport terminal, which had been debated as an alternative for Abuja Airport.[15] Several airport users,[16] including the Nigerian Senate,[17] opposed the planned closure. It was believed that the closure of the airport would cause hardship for international and local air travellers alike.
On March 8, 2017, the Federal Airport Authority in Nigeria, stated that the airport will shut to commercial traffic for at least six weeks to bring needed repairs to the runway.[18] On 18 April 2017, the airport was reopened following the completion of the project.[19]
The airport operates a private jet wing that serves businesses, diplomats and politicians in the city. In 2016, the Ministry of Transportation announced plans for a new terminal for private Jet operations. The General Aviation Terminal project will cost N258 million naira and will include a new protocol Lounge and rehabilitation of the fire station at the Airport. It will serve non-scheduled flights.[24]
2017 runway reconstructionedit
In 2017, the Nigerian Government awarded a contract to Julius Berger for the emergency rehabilitation of the airport's only runway. It had been built to last for 20 years but had been in use for nearly 40 years at that time. The airport's runway was starting to show signs of fatigue and disrepair.[25] The Airport was closed for 6 weeks, and flights were diverted to neighboring Kaduna airport.[26] The Airport reopened with the completion of the Runway on the 17 of April 2017, 2 days ahead of schedule.[27]
These data show number of passengers movements into the airport, according to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria's (FAAN) Aviation Sector Summary Reports.
Annual passenger traffic at ABV airport.
See Wikidata query.
Year
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Passengers
4,216,147
3,679,224
3,945,897
4,169,676
4,341,637
4,230,090
3,560,622
4,879,066
5,554,302
3,880,283
5,323,905
Growth (%)
7.48%
12.73%
7.25%
5.67%
4.12%
2.59%
15.83%
37.03%
13.83%
30.24%
37.23%
Source: Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Aviation Sector Reports (2010-2013,[41] 2014,[42] Q3-Q4 of 2015,[43] and Q1-Q2 of 2016,[44])[45]
^"Airport information for DNAA". World Aero Data. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) Data current as of October 2006. Source: DAFIF.
^Airport information for ABV at Great Circle Mapper.
^Eze, Chinedu (17 June 2022). "Construction of Second Runway at Abuja Airport". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
^"Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport | Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria". Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
^"Delta launches flights between New York and Abuja". Reuters. 11 June 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
^"NAHCo Attributes Delta Air's Smooth Abuja Inaugural Flight to Its Handling". Vanguard. 30 June 2009. Gale A202668109.
^"New routes launched during the last week (Tuesday 1 June – Monday 7 June)". Anna.aero. 8 June 2010. Archived from the original on 11 June 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
^Ehigiator, Kenneth (28 May 2010). "Delta Airlines Commences Direct Flight to New York". Vanguard. Gale A227656042.
^"Bolstered by Growing Global Alliances, Delta Strengthens International Schedules for Summer 2010" (Press release). Delta Air Lines. 20 October 2009. ProQuest 447787735.
^"Air Nigeria re-establishes long-haul routes". CAPA Centre for Aviation. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
^Osa Okunbor, Kelvin (18 September 2012). "Why we suspended flights". The Nation. p. 11. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
^"Senate queries approval of N63 5bn for Abuja Airport's 2nd runway contract". oak.tv. Oak TV. Oak TV. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
^"Why Nigerian govt approved N1billion for Kaduna Airport Terminal". oak.tv. Oak TV. Oak TV. Archived from the original on 9 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
^"Abuja Airport Closure: 'Fire brigade approach to upgrade Kaduna airport will not work'- Dino Melaye". oak.tv. Oak TV. Oak TV. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
^"Abuja Airport Closure: Senate disagrees with Shehu Sani on Kaduna airport". oak.tv. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
^"Nigeria to close airport in Abuja, the capital, for repairs | KSL.com". Archived from the original on 9 March 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
^Idris Ibrahim (18 April 2017). "Abuja airport reopens as Ethiopian airline lands new plane". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 24 July 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
^"Buhari inaugurates new Abuja airport terminal". Archived from the original on 14 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
^"Abuja Airport's new terminal to process 15m passengers annually—FAAN". Archived from the original on 14 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
^"Contact". Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 21 June 2020. Abuja Regional Office Nanmdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja
^"Istanbul New Airport Transition Delayed Until April 5, 2019 (At The Earliest)". Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.