Enhancing Connectivity and Economic Opportunities
Addressing journalists in Warri, Mrs. Aderonke Emmanuel-James, Chief Operating Officer of Overland Airways, underscored the multifaceted benefits of the resumed service. She stated that the flights would not only be of substantial economic importance but also foster stronger social connections for the people of Delta State, facilitating seamless travel to other parts of Nigeria.
Emmanuel-James detailed the connectivity options for passengers, explaining that travelers from Warri can now seamlessly connect to various destinations across the North and South-West regions on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. "Over the years, we have proven that aviation is a catalyst of growth, and we are able to move businessmen across states and across Nigeria," she remarked.
She further elaborated on the initial flight schedule: "This service we are offering today, we are operating Lagos to Warri, Warri to Abuja, Abuja to Ilorin, and Warri back to Lagos. We are starting with three weekly flights. We start in Lagos at 8:15 in the morning and depart for Abuja from Warri at 9:25. While Abuja to Ilorin will depart at 11:05 and Warri to Lagos at 12:30 PM. We hope that in the next coming weeks, we will be able to operate daily flights into Warri and out of Warri."
Highlighting the airline's commitment to passenger comfort and technological advancement, Mrs. Emmanuel-James proudly announced, "We are back with our brand new Embraer E175 jet aircraft that features the premium and the economical class cabin. We are back with the latest technology. It is a second chance for everyone to experience, fly with Overland Airways and experience the best, one of the best cabins around in Nigeria today with the latest technology.”
Osubi Airport's Runway Challenges and Future Plans
While expressing delight at the resumption of flights, Mr. Winston Egwuatu, the manager of Osubi Airport, voiced concerns over the airport's runway limitations, which have historically deterred some airlines and consequently impacted passenger traffic. He lamented that "The size of the runway has kept several airlines away from the airport. The runway, which is 2.1 kilometers long, has a setback of 150 meters at both ends, thereby reducing the available landing space to 1.8 kilometers. This has forced airlines to operate with smaller aircraft and limit the number of airlines that can fly into the airport.”
Despite these challenges, Egwuatu expressed optimism that passengers traveling from Warri would now enjoy seamless connections to Lagos and Abuja, eliminating the need to travel through alternative airports like Asaba or Benin. He also shared promising news regarding future infrastructure improvements, stating that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has initiated plans to expand the airport runway. Egwuatu pledged that all necessary infrastructure would be provided to ensure Overland Airways can operate seamlessly into and out of Osubi Airport.
The return of Overland Airways to Warri is a significant step towards alleviating travel burdens for residents and businesses in Delta State, promising improved accessibility and contributing to the region's overall economic vibrancy.