No need to shut Abuja airport for runway repair, airline operators tell Nigerian govt

Nigerian airlines have told the federal govt that there is no need to close the Abuja airport to conduct repairs on its runway. The chairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria, Noggie Meggison, said though his members would support any decision taken by the federal govt, such closure as announced was unnecessary. The federal govt had announced that the airport would be closed from March 8 for 6 weeks to enable repairs on the only runway. Meggison, however, said the repairs could be carried out at night while flights are allowed to operate during the day. The airline chief said Gatwick airport in the UK, which like Abuja airport has only one runway, did not shut down when repairs were carried out on its runway. <br/>