United Nigeria Airlines Suspends Benin Flights After Runway Closure Over Safety Concerns

United Nigeria Airlines has suspended all scheduled flights to and from Benin Airport following the closure of the airport's runway by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) after an aircraft runway excursion.

The airline announced the temporary suspension on Thursday, saying its operations on the Benin route would remain on hold until aviation authorities complete recovery operations, conduct the necessary safety checks and declare the runway fit for normal flight operations.

The disruption followed an incident in which an aircraft reportedly veered off the runway while landing at the airport. The incident prompted FAAN to shut the runway and commence recovery and safety assessment procedures.

United Nigeria Airlines, in a statement confirming the suspension, said the runway closure had made it impossible for the carrier to continue its scheduled operations at the airport.

“As a result of the runway closure by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) following an excursion, all our flights to and from Benin Airport have been cancelled pending its reopening,” the airline stated.

The cancellation is expected to affect passengers booked on the carrier's scheduled services to and from Benin, as the airline awaits the completion of the ongoing recovery efforts and the subsequent reopening of the runway.

United Nigeria Airlines expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to affected travellers, urging passengers whose flights were disrupted to contact its customer service channels for rebooking arrangements and other forms of travel assistance.

The carrier also said it was making arrangements to minimise the impact of the cancellations on passengers, while stressing that the safety and welfare of its customers remained its highest priority.

The airline appealed to travellers for patience as FAAN concludes the recovery work and carries out the required safety inspections before the runway can be reopened for flight operations.

The development highlights the importance of runway safety and the need for thorough inspections following aircraft excursions. Such incidents can require temporary airport closures to allow aviation authorities and airport operators to safely recover the affected aircraft, assess any possible damage to the runway and surrounding infrastructure, and determine whether the facility is suitable for continued use.

United Nigeria Airlines said it would resume its Benin Airport operations once the runway is reopened and aviation authorities give the necessary clearance for flight operations to continue.

In the meantime, affected passengers have been advised to liaise directly with the airline through its customer service channels for information on rebooking and other available travel arrangements.