EBONYI State Government says that the rehabilitation of Chuba Okadigbo International Airport has been completed and flight operations at the airport are expected to take off in August this year.

Ngozi Obichukwu, Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology in Ebonyi State, made this known to journalists at the airport, adding that the State Government had concluded plans to purchase four aircraft (tagged Ebonyiairline) for the smooth take-off of the airport.

BusinessDay reports that the airport rehabilitation which was said to have gulped about N42 billion was part of the projects embarked on by David Umahi-led Administration and was deemed to have been completed, but flight operations could not commence at the airport following the bad nature of its runway which was constructed with concrete.

Consequently, the present State Government had to put over N20 billion into the airport to make it operational. The rehabilitation work on the runway has now been completed while flight operations will commence any time soon according to the Commissioner.

Obichukwu further stated that investors had already indicated interest in giving the State an extra three aircraft. She however expressed optimism that the airport would boost the economic status of the State, showcasing Ebonyi to the world.

“We will soon start floating our aircraft. When flight operations start at the airport, we have investors who are ready to give us an extra three planes. We have already agreed with them, and very soon it will start happening.

“Permit me to announce to you that our Governor is very passionate about bringing in our planes. And we are launching four at a time and when it comes, everybody will hear it. The governor wants to make this airport the economic hub of the Southeast region”, she said.

She expressed joy on the completion of the runway and revealed that flight operations at the Airport were expected to take off in August this year.