Owerri runway closure from Oct 20 redirects flights to Enugu, Port Harcourt
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Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo announced a 25‑day closure of runway 17/35 at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, beginning on 20 October 2026, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria said the shutdown will affect flight operations to and from the airport.
United Nigeria Airlines advised passengers with Owerri bookings to consider using Enugu or Port Harcourt airports and to contact its customer care for changes, while Air Peace and other carriers are likely to divert to those airports as well; aviation expert Capt Peter Ubaka said the diversion could shift a portion of Owerri‑bound demand to Enugu and Port Harcourt, with the amount of additional traffic depending on airline decisions, seat availability, flight frequencies and route practicality.
The expected increase in passenger traffic at Enugu and Port Harcourt could raise capacity concerns for those airports.