BY Olapeju Olubi
The management of Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Mohammed Airport (Terminal 2) in Lagos is currently celebrating the 17th anniversary of the terminal built under a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) initiative.
The Chief Operating Officer at MMA2, Remi Jibodu, who spoke on Monday at a media briefing said the company surmounted all the initial challenges to hoist its flag of good service delivery on the Nigerian aviation landscape.
While going down memory lane, Jibodu recalled that the first airline that departed from its runway was Chanchangi Airline’s Flight NCH 334, with aircraft registration number 5N BEU, which lifted 70 passengers and departed at exactly 17:15 on May 7, 2007.
The terminal currently has 10 domestic airlines which operate out of the facility;including Ibom Air, Arik Air and Air Peace.
He said MMA2 welcomes over 10,000 guests daily, not just passengers but also stakeholders, concessionaires and visitors, which he said hallmark’s the terminal’s role as a vital transportation hub and economic driver.
He added that the PPP model with which the terminal operates, has helped streamline operations and deepened collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
Jibodu said initiatives like the multi-story car park, e-gates, and uninterrupted power supply system, have thrilled passengers while boosting operational efficiency.
“We currently have a total of 10 domestic airlines flying out of our terminal daily: Ibom Air, Valuejet, Air Peace, Arik Air, Aero Contractors, Dana Air, United Nigeria Airlines, Azman Air, Max Air, and Rano Air. We are immensely grateful for the partnerships we share with them.
We play host to over ten thousand guests every day at this terminal, including passengers, stakeholders, concessionaires, and many others who come here to shop, eat, and fly. This has strengthened our commitment to continuous improvement and significant development of our infrastructure.
“Recently, as an airport, we developed a flight disruption guideline after noticing a growing trend of passenger unrest at the slightest provocation. This often leads to property damage and abuse of staff and users of the airport. This unrest has been tremendously reduced to the barest minimum. Over the past 17 years, we have consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation, setting new standards for efficiency, safety, and customer satisfaction. Our commitment to excellence has not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by the numerous accolades and awards that adorn our walls.
“From being recognised as the ‘Best Airport Terminal of the Year 2023’ and ‘Best Airport Terminal Lounge’ to receiving the prestigious CSR award in recognition of our outstanding commitment to promoting safety and wellness, we have continuously raised the bar. This success cannot be achieved without the collective effort and dedication of our staff, partners, and stakeholders who have played an integral role in our success.
Their unwavering commitment to excellence has been instrumental in shaping the legacy of this airport. Through our state-of-the-art facilities and hands-on training by aviation professionals, we are shaping the future leaders of the aviation industry.
“Our training center is not just a place of learning; it is a symbol of empowerment, providing individuals with the tools they need to soar to new heights. Whether it’s aspiring ground staff learning the intricacies of customer service or advanced aviation security courses, our training center is a place where dreams take flight,” the COO said.
Giving accolades to the staff, Jibodu hinged the success of the terminal on collective effort and dedication of staff, partners, and stakeholders who have played an integral role with unwavering commitment to excellence has been instrumental in shaping the legacy of the airport.
