Opening Of Departure Hall Excites PH Passengers

Passengers boarding Arik and Aero airlines have heaved a sigh of relief over the opening of the departure hall of the Port Harcourt International Airport by the Regional General Manager, Mrs Ebele Okoye of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The departure hall which was opened last Saturday by the Regional General Manager for local and international flight operation reduces the inconveniences suffered by airport users.

Some passengers who spoke to The Tide Aviation correspondent at the airport, expressed happiness over the development, stressing that it would go a long way to reduce the hardship suffered’ by air passengers.

According to them, they can now wait comfortably at the departure hall for their flight before boarding time and urged the contractor handling the project to redouble his efforts to complete the arrival hall section of the airport.

A passenger who gave his name simply as Mr Johnson commended the Regional General Manager for opening the department hall inspite of the fact that the remodeling exercise had not been completed and commissioned.

He explained that the option was necessary because the influx of passengers during the yuletide would put pressure on the make shift arrangement which subjected passengers to standing for hours while waiting for their flights.

The Mayor of Port Harcourt Hon Chimbiko Akarolo who was reluctant to speak to The Tide, said just look at our airport, a gate way to the South-South and South East, the contract for these airports were awarded the same time”.

According to him, the federal government has politicized the completion of the Port Harcourt airport which should not be, particularly considering that the president comes from the South-South Geo-Political zone.

However, the sudden movement to the new departure hall has hampered some operations especially in the area of communication as the operating airlines had to run two desk outlets, one at the temporary site and the other at the departure hall.

The VIP protocol lounge equally suffered serious setback as the usually announcement for boarding and arrival of flights was hampered because of the cut in communication.

The newly established entry joint by Genesis at the temporary site was deserted as the crowd that usually patronized them vacated the area for fear of missing their flight due to the absence of information on flight schedules.