The Federal government has announced a tentative date for the resumption of domestic flights.
According to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, domestic flight will commence on June 21.
The airports have been shut since March 23 as part of efforts to control the spread of coronavirus.
The Task Force also noted that once domestic flights resume, the Force would review the current ban placed on interstate travel.
These were disclosed in Abuja on Monday during the briefing by members of the Task Force on COVID-19.
Speaking, the National Coordinator of the Task Force, Dr. Sani Aliyu said: “We are giving them (aviation sector) three weeks for them to start preparing for domestic flights.
“Once we open up the skies to domestic flight, we would have to review the arrangement with regards to interstate travel because of course, we cannot have a ban on inter-state travel and have people flying from state to state.
“We are giving an opportunity to the aviation sector that is heavily regulated to make sure that they start getting ready so that our airports open in a safe way.
“Airlines must ensure physical distancing by reducing passenger capacity, ensure the provision of sanitizers, and appropriate PPEs as well as carrying out temperature checks at the point of entry and departure and ensuring that airports are not congested by either travelers or airport staff.”
Giving more clarifications on the resumption of domestic flights, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika said: “Regarding the tentative date for opening up for domestic flights from the 21st of June, the explanation is that; this is an industry that is highly regulated as it borders on safety and efficiency. So, we have to do all the things that we need to do to be able to open. They are broadly divided into two.
“The first is the technical aspect and the second is the health side of it. Of the technical aspect; the aircraft have been parked for about three months not being run. We have to ensure that between now and that time, these equipment are safe and good to fly.
“The maintenance for aircraft is either usage or calendar timed; whichever comes first and there are protocols to the storage of such aircraft either for the short term, long term or forever. That is being done currently. So, the airline industry needs to be able to bring those machines to safe operations.”
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