Within the two years of its existence, 403, 000 passengers have travelled through Akwa Ibom International Airport while the airport has also recorded 7,779 flights.

Governor Godswill Akpabio dropped this hint in an interview with some journalists at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport.

Speaking on why he signed an N18.05 billion contract with  Messrs ALCON Nigeria Limited for the construction of a standard terminal for the international airport, Akpabio said his administration discovered that passenger traffic had increased at the airport within its two years of existence.

“We realise that the passenger traffic has increased tremendously; you can imagine a new airport that is just starting and under two years, we have recorded four hundred and three thousands (403,000) passengers  passing through. We’ve had at least 7,779 flights within two years and the passenger traffic is such that there is now need for us to increase the terminal.

 “We  also want to use it as a cargo hub for international cargo flights and at the same time, we are building maintenance repair and overhaul facilities which you are aware is capable of carrying at least seven B737 simultaneously and even B747 planes with its wings.

“It’s based on study. So, far, we have been in operations in less than two years and since we started, we realised that there was a very serious upsurge in passengers’ traffic. It is not only Akwa Ibom people that use the airport, our adjoining states also use the airport. A lot of people that go to Rivers States particularly those on the fringes like the Ogoni area use the airport. People from Abia State going to Aba and those to Arochukwu also use the airport. In addition, many people from Cross River State because of the flight schedules also use the airport just like we interchange sometimes. We also use the Calabar Airport to fly their schedules. Anyone that is convenient because the two states are close; you interchange and use.”

According to the governor,  the MRO facilities building is the biggest hangar in the whole of West Africa with no other airport in the whole of the region having such hangar.