A total of 15.2 million passengers passed through Nigerian airports in 227,834 aircraft movements in 2018 according to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) .
The figure contained in FAAN’s 2018 Annual Report showed an increase of 2.5 million passengers over 12.7 million passengers recorded in 2017 representing 19.11 per cent increase.
It also revealed an increase of 27,068 from the 200,766 aircraft movements recorded in 2017 representing 11.48 per cent increase.
Also, 11.02 million passengers travelled within the country (domestic), while a total of 4.2 passengers traveled into and out of the country (international) through the airports during the period under review.
The data further showed that 182,924 domestic and 44,910 international flights were operated across the nation’s 22 airports during the period.
The total cargo movement, according to FAAN, stood at 245.89 million tonnes per kilogramme compared to the 169.50 million tonnes per kilogramme recorded in 2017.
The statistics also indicated that 174.91 million tonnes per kilogramme arrived in the country through the airports, while 70.89 million tonnes departed during the year.
A look at the four major airports in the country showed that Murtala Muhammed Airports, Lagos, (Domestic and International Wing) recorded the highest passengers and aircraft movements during the period.
The data indicated that Lagos airport recorded 6.7 million passengers comprising 2.8 million on domestic routes and 2.9 million on the international routes.
The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja recorded 4.6 million passengers comprising 3.7 million on domestic routes, while the international routes recorded 941,182 passengers.
FAAN also disclosed that Port Harcourt International Airport recorded 1.14 million passengers comprising 1.05 million domestic passengers and 92,050 international.
Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano recorded 567,537 passengers comprising 398,266 domestic and 169,271 international passengers.
