Asaba International Airport (ABB)

Asaba International Airport (DNAS (ABB)) is a civil/public international airport located approximately 7.9 kilometers (4.9 mi) east of Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. It facilitates both domestic and regional air traffic, handling passenger and cargo operations within Nigeria's southern region.

Notable Features and History: Conceptualized in 2007 and officially opened on July 13, 2011, the airport was designed to serve as a standard passenger and cargo airport. It was upgraded to Category 6 status in 2010. The airport faced initial operational challenges, leading to a downgrade by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in 2015 due to infrastructural deficiencies, including runway and taxiway conditions. Following facility upgrades, it temporarily closed in April 2018 and reopened in June 2018. Asaba International Airport features a 3,400-meter asphalt runway (11/29) equipped with a Category 1 Instrument Landing System (ILS), 25-meter-wide taxiways, and a 45,000 square meter apron, capable of accommodating aircraft in categories C, D, and E. The airport handled its first international flight in 2018.

Current Status: As of February 2021, the Delta State Government ceded the management and operation of Asaba International Airport to the Asaba Airport Company under a 30-year brownfield concession agreement. This arrangement marks Nigeria's first such model for an airport and has reportedly made it the country's only profitable airport. The airport currently functions as a strategic hub for the commercially active South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria, connecting major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano. It is considered the fifth largest airport in Nigeria by passenger and goods handled and offers amenities such as VIP lounges and free high-speed Wi-Fi. In 2023, the airport recorded 4,863 aircraft movements.