United Nigeria Airlines has temporarily suspended all flights to and from Benin Airport following the closure of the airport’s runway by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The airline announced the suspension in a statement issued by its management on Thursday, noting that operations would remain halted until the runway is reopened.
The development occurred hours after an aircraft operating into Benin Airport veered off the runway after landing, prompting aviation authorities to shut the runway to allow recovery operations and safety assessments.
In its statement, United Nigeria Airlines said, “We wish to inform our valued passengers and the general public that, due to the closure of the runway by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as a result of an excursion, all our flights to and from Benin Airport have been cancelled pending its reopening.”
The airline apologised to affected passengers and advised them to contact its customer service team for assistance with rebooking and other travel arrangements.
“We sincerely regret any inconvenience this may have caused. All passengers who have been affected by this development are advised to contact our customer service for further information and any assistance needed with rebooking,” the airline stated.
It added that it remained committed to supporting affected passengers, stressing that their welfare was a priority.
The airline also appealed to passengers for patience and understanding while the situation is being resolved.
An aircraft excursion occurs when an aircraft leaves the designated runway surface during take-off or landing.
Such incidents typically lead to temporary runway closures to allow authorities to recover the aircraft, inspect airport infrastructure and conduct necessary safety checks before operations can resume.
FAAN is expected to reopen the runway after the recovery operation and completion of the required safety assessments, paving the way for the resumption of normal flight operations at Benin Airport.
