The Bayelsa International Cargo Airport will commence operations this month to develop and boost the economic activities of the region.

Managing Director (MD) of the Bayelsa Airlines Limited, Capt. Henry Ungbuku, made this known at the recent Airport Business Summit and Expo in Abuja, saying the project was at its final stage of completion and will be commissioned by the end of August.

Ungbuku said the airport was being constructed to guarantee security for the people of the state, including the oil workers.

He said airports are not built for passengers’ facilitation alone, but also for the movement of cargo in order to attract new businesses.

While he blamed the collapse of some state-owned airports on lack of continuity, the MD assured that the current administration had put measures in place to ensure the project outlived the government.

He said the government considered long-term investment with the acquisition of 2,250 hectares of land from the outset of the project.

The airport will accommodate Boeing747 aircraft, with the benefit of category II land facilities to ensure that there is no flight disruption during bad weather.

He added that the potential of the airport is enormous; not only for job creation but also for the provision of critical facilities such as hangar.

Ungbuku was optimistic that the state having a hangar will bring succor to airlines in the country to carry out their C-checks and save millions of naira.

He, however, urged investors to come to the state as enabling environment will be provided for their business to thrive.

Ungbuku revealed that no fewer than 40 per cent of air travellers using the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) are from Bayelsa State, stressing that the state has the customer base in terms of passengers.

While thanking the state government for the opportunity to serve, Ungbuku expressed optimism that the President Muhammadu Buhari will be present to commission the airport on August 27.

•Culled from a Guardian report

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