Osubi airport in Warri, Delta state, one of the fastest growing airports in the country has been named the ‘Most Promising Airport’ in the country as it continues to attract more domestic airlines with state of the art facilities being installed
The airport with its airfield lightings currently being upgraded from category Two to Three, has one of the best baggage scanning machines installed.
About eight scheduled commercial airline operators have shown interest to operate flights in and out of the Osubi airports.
It was gathered that the short length of the airport’s runway has limited airline operators from operating with big aircraft.
Osubi is an airport to watch as traffic will shift to the area after the extension of its runway which will lead to its upgrading to a fully fledged airport.
It was also learnt that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Mr Festus Keyamo has shown interest in the extension of the runway to accommodate bigger aircraft.
Osubi airport is the only airport in the country that has remained self funded with the internally generated revenue with no budget and funding from the government.
On revenue generation, the airport has continued to wax stronger from zero naira four years ago to one billion naira (N1bn) and close to N2bn last year.
With 22 staff to run the airport from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) after resumption four years ago, it can now boast of about 150 third party staff, not direct FAAN staff but staff on Osubi airport salary payments.
Experts have admitted that there has been significant improvement in infrastructure and operational procedures.
According to the Osubi Airport Manager, Mr. Winston Egwuatu, the growth of the airport was as a result of what he called working procedure established by the management of the airport, prompt procedure for maintenance as at when due.
Egwuatu, who has won several awards, including the 2024 NIGAV ‘Most Innovative Airport Manager’ and the bestowed with the ‘Most Promising Airport’ award, said the Aerodrome manual was being followed back to back with procedure in place for maintenance.