The Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport – What the Upgrade will Entail

November 7, 2024

The Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport (formerly the Ibadan Airport) is set to undergo significant upgrades to enhance safety, efficiency, and capacity. These improvements which come following the setting up of the committee to upgrade the Ibadan Airport, include the expansion of runway shoulders, the construction of a state-of-the-art cargo terminal, and the development of a new maintenance facility for large aircraft. The airport will be better equipped to handle increased traffic with plans for wider aprons, better lighting, and an additional taxiway. The runway will be lengthened, and turn-pads and safety areas will be improved. These upgrades, alongside advanced parking systems and better infrastructure, are designed to improve overall operations and passenger experience. These upgrades include:

1. Wider Apron

The airport’s apron is where aircraft are parked, loaded or unloaded, refuelled, and maintained. A wider apron is being installed for the Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport. The Apron area will be increased to 56,250 SQM, which has the parking capacity for more than 6 Airbus A330 and will account for more than 7.5 m clearance distance for Class E aircraft.

2. Improved Fire Bay

The airport’s fire safety area, the Fire Bay, will be upgraded to a higher level (Category 9) to improve safety. This includes adding two new specialised fire trucks explicitly designed for airports. These trucks have powerful water and foam cannons that can quickly control fires. More fire personnel will be trained to operate this equipment to enhance safety further. Additionally, the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport is investing in high-resolution cameras with motion detectors to improve security monitoring across the grounds.

Other improvements include:

Larger storage areas for equipment and supplies.
Cloakrooms for staff belongings.
A fully equipped gymnasium to help staff maintain physical fitness.

3. Ground Navigation

The Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport will upgrade its runway signs, making it easier for pilots to identify and navigate runways. The apron and taxiways (where planes park and move on the ground) will now have new navigation aids to improve aircraft guidance. Additionally, bright LED lights will be installed along the edges of the runway and taxiways, providing clearer visibility for safe takeoffs, landings, and ground movements, especially at night or in low-visibility conditions.

4. New Parking Lot

A new VIP parking lot will be added at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, designed to offer convenience and security. This lot will also include overnight parking spaces equipped with modern technology like automated toll systems, sensors, and smart ticketing devices using IoT (Internet of Things). These upgrades will make it easier and faster for users to park, track, and manage their parking, providing a smooth, high-tech experience.

5. Runway Shoulders

The Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport will expand runway shoulders from 45 to 60 metres. Runway shoulders are the paved areas along each side of the main runway. While they aren’t used for landing or takeoff, they provide extra space for larger planes in case of slight veering, helping to prevent damage and improve overall safety. This expansion will benefit large, wide-body jets, offering them more room and creating a greater sense of space for pilots, making landings and takeoffs feel safer and more controlled.

6. Improved Airside

The Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport will feature wider aprons (the areas where aircraft are parked, loaded, and refuelled) to accommodate more planes and improve ground movement. Enhanced lighting will improve visibility and safety, especially at night. An additional taxiway will be built to make aircraft movement smoother and reduce waiting times. The Multiple Aircraft Ramp System (MARS) markings will also be added, which are specific guides on the apron that allow for the safe parking of multiple aircraft at once, optimising space and efficiency.

7. New Cargo Terminal

A new cargo terminal will be built, with advanced freight handling systems, modern warehousing facilities, and efficient customs clearance processes. This facility will streamline cargo management by ensuring quick handling, safe storage, and smoother clearance, meeting the highest industry standards.

8. MRO Hanger

A new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility is proposed, designed to simultaneously accommodate two Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The facility will be 50 metres wide, 100 metres long, and 15 metres high. This addition will allow on-site maintenance and repairs, ensuring faster service and improved operational efficiency for the airport’s fleet.

9. Runway Extension

The Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport will increase the runway length from 2,400 to 3,000 metres, providing more space for longer takeoffs and landings, especially for larger aircraft. Wider turn-pads will be added after the runway thresholds to help aircraft turn smoothly. Additionally, RESA (Runway End Safety Areas) will be properly implemented to enhance safety by providing extra space at the runway ends in case of emergencies.

Previous Upgrades at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport Under Omituntun 1.0

These improvements are just the beginning of a new era for the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, aiming to provide a safer, more efficient, and modern environment for passengers and aircraft, opening up Oyo State to be easily accessible. Remember, the construction of a 500,000-litre capacity aviation tank farm at the Ibadan Airport, the upgrade of the VIP lounge, as well as the provision of a fire truck were part of the plans of the Oyo State Government to upgrade the Ibadan Airport to an international standard and make the airport a regional hub for air transportation.

With these upgrades, Oyo State has the unique opportunity to leverage the growing population of southwest Nigeria and the continuous increase of persons who choose air travel or who, by necessity, must travel by air in and out of Nigeria.