Fact Check Story
Sierra Leone’s airport’s officials have confirmed that due to resurfacing of runway at Lungi Airport (FNA), a new schedule for flight operations is in effect. From December 1 – Jan 31 2023 flights can only land and take off between 17:00pm and 5:00am.
Fact-Checkers Comment
The rehabilitation works on the Freetown National Airport runway is scheduled to commence from 1st Deccember 2022 to 31st January 2023. Constantly. Runway 12/30 will be closed to flight operations from 0500-1700 hours.
BY ABDULAZIZ SAMURA
On Thursday 1st December, 2022, award winning entrepreneur, Online Marketing Consultant, TV host and curator of #MakeSierra Leone Famous, Vicky Remoe as she is fondly called posted via her Facebook page that “Sierra Leone’s airport’s officials have confirmed that due to resurfacing of runway at Lungi Airport (FNA), a new schedule for flight operations is in effect. From December 1 – Jan 31 2023 flights can only land and take off between 17:00pm and 5:00am.”
Responding to the above post, Mallay Betty Brima from the Sierra Leone Airports Authority (SLAA), reiterated that the above post is true and that there is a public notice issued out the same day to inform the public about the said changes on flights schedule. She ended by sending the public notice to Salone Fact Checker.
One of the passengers travelling overseas on Saturday 2nd December, especially business people, Raza Bojani, owner of ‘Just You & Me Apple Store’, says he hope this sudden change on flights schedule would not affect their movement. He however stated that since the said changes is as a result of the ongoing construction of the runway, he has no option but to follow instructions by the airports authority.
The Sierra Leone Airports Authority informed the public through a press issued on 1st December that the SUMMA project has commenced rehabilitation works on runways 12/30 at the Freetown International Airport, for which a NOTAM has been issued. The overriding objective of issuing the NOTAMN is to expedite construction works that will enhance the safety of flight operations within the project timelines.
The rehabilitation works on the runway as scheduled to commence from 1st December 2022 to 31st January 2023. Consequently, Runway 12/30 will be closed to flight operations from 0500-1700 Hrs.
A new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been developed to ensure smooth facilitation of passengers and the safety of Flight Operations.