International Flights Resumption: MMIA Receives first Flight from Lebanon

International flights finally resumed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Saturday after air operations were suspended in March due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

It would be recalled that last `week the Federal Government had issued a schedule for the partial resumption of international flights, after months of suspension due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.

The flight from Lebanon which was the first, operated by Middle East Airlines landed at about 2:05 pm to the formal welcome in the traditional water cannon salute to signal the first flight coming into the airport after five months and twenty two days. Outbound passengers were also sighted preparing for boarding formalities.

Passengers onboard the flight were reported to be about 222 and 15 crew members apparently in compliance with NCAA directive. In the document dated September 4, 2020, the aviation agency stated that a maximum of 200 passengers per incoming flights would be allowed into the country.

It explained that the limitation was due to the limited number of approved incoming passengers at 1,280 per airport on a daily basis

The Lens reporter observed that passengers did not disembark immediately in the usual manner but went through identification and were batched in twenties to the port of entry. Also, airport officials ensured that everyone maintained social distance and made sure that the port of entry was not clogged up in line with FG’s COVID 19 protocol.