Medview resumes flights to Maiduguri

Medview Airline on Friday commenced flight operations at the Maiduguri International Airport after it was reopened by military authorities in June.

The airport was shut in December 2013 by the military due to ino increased suspected Boko Haram insurgents’ attacks in Maiduguri.

The Friday flight, conveying 82 engers including Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno arrived at the airport around 2 p.m.

Speaking on arrival, Shettima said the resumed commercial flight operations was a dream come true and commended the military for reopening the airport.

Also speaking, the Medview Managing Director, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, said that the airline would operate four flights per week.

Bankole said that “for now, we are operating on Fridays, Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays.

“But it is going to be a daily flight later. We started with four flight to build capacity and to ensure that all our people are tuned to the airline, that is why we call it the airline of Nigeria because Nigerians deserve good things.’’

He said that the airline would expand its operations to cover Jeddah in Saudi Arabia in the near future.

“We are here to stay, because there are so many advantages in Borno. We are one of the pioneer Hajj carriers in Nigeria and Maiduguri is the shortest exit from any part of Nigeria to Saudi Arabia.

“We are going to operate from here to Jeddah and then we go to Dubai by the grace of God.’’

He expressed optimism that the Boko Haram insurgency would not affect the airline operations.

He said “Allah is the owner of security. We are all in His hands and we pray that those on the other side know that peace is the solution.’’