The months of December and January are regarded as peak times in the air traffic period as people travel from different parts of the world for vacations and visits. This is also the busiest time at airports around the world.
The Freetown Airport Authority management engaged its different stakeholders including the media about the strategies they have put in place for this year’s peak time.
The Deputy General Manager of the Airport Authority, Emil Rogers, said this is an annual event they have engaged since the start of the operations of the airport. He said they also use this opportunity to give update the public about the activities of the airport.
Rogers disclosed that the airport also suffered a shock during Ebola. Out of the seven flights that were operating, five suspended their operations in the country.
The Deputy General Manager said there are about ten airlines that are presently operating in the country and they are expecting three more before the end of the year. Rogers added they have put in place measures to enhance safety and security for all those who visit Sierra Leone during the peak travel period over Christmas and New Years.
The General Manager, Idriss Fofanah, said, “That is why this activity is not only limited to Freetown International Airport but airport authorities all over the world are overstretched beyond their capacity. It is not that we are not prepared; we are always prepared. But, it means you have to deploy more resources for you to ensure that your requirements to your operational capacity are met”.
He said there are three key things they had to offer to the travelling public, one of them is security. The second key is safety because aviation is regarded as one of the most risky means of travelling, so we have to ensure that whatever we do, the aircraft and everything is operated in a very safe environment”. He added, customer’s comfort is also paramount.
He disclosed further that they have also coordinated among all the security agencies to ensure that the standard operating procedures are done. “That is why we have ensured that passengers are thoroughly screened from the gate before they enter the airport and they also have an intelligence network between the police and ONS to ensure that all what we are doing is within the security line.”
Station Manager for Kenya Airways, Zubeida Ramadhan, and General Manager for WestMinister, Alusine Joaque, explained their preparedness for the peak time.
BM/18/11/17
By Betty Milton
Monday November 20, 2017.
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