The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has reopened the 3.9km Runway 18R/36L of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos after almost 11 months of maintenance repairs.
In March 2023, FAAN announced the temporary closure of the international runway 18R/36L of the Lagos airport. The maintenance was reportedly meant to last for eight weeks.
The closure had disrupted air traffic and airlines’ schedules, having extended beyond the expected timeframe.
During the repairs period, both international and local airlines were using the runway 18L/36R, a shorter runway that is meant to handle only domestic flights.
However, Links 2 and 3 of the taxiway are now operational, providing international airlines with an alternative runway, aside from the domestic 18L/36R runway.
The reopened runway 18R/36L has a length of 3,900 m (12,794 ft) and a width of 60 m (197 ft)
Kenya Airways has already utilised the reopened runway, receiving a ceremonial welcome, marking the runway’s return to service. Also, Qatar Airways landed on the runway around 11 am on Saturday.
Earlier, the Nigerian Airspace had issued a Notice to Airmen, announcing the opening of the runway after midnight on February 15. However, due to the last-minute that had yet to be closed, inspectors of the regulatory authority Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority stopped airlines from using the runway.
