Sam Mbakwe Airport
| Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport Imo Airport | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  QOW | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) | ||||||||||
| Serves | Owerri, Nigeria | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 373 ft / 114 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 05°25′37″N 007°12′21″E / 5.42694°N 7.20583°E | ||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2009) | |||||||||||
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Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport[1] (IATA: QOW[3], ICAO: DNIM), also known as Imo State Airport,[2] serves Owerri, the capital city of Imo State in southeastern Nigeria. The airport is named in honor of a former governor and politician-philanthropist, the late Chief Sam Mbakwe of Imo State. It is the first state government-built airport. Navy Commodore Anthony E. Oguguo who was appointed military governor of Imo State in Nigeria from 1990 to 1992 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, commissioned and built the Imo State airport that still operates today. He very famously said "I saw money and looked away, it is not everything; we can all do the same and teach it to our children.". It was later taken over by the federal government. The airport recently underwent upgrading (2013-14) which covered the physical infrastructure as well communication equipment covering its air space as far Port Harcourt Airport and beyond as part of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON).
The airport has night landing capabilities but, like most flights in non-international designated airports, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria restricts night operations except for airlifting passengers during pilgrimage (Hajj) operations.
Currently the cargo section is undergoing expansion works and should be completed by 2016.
Facilities
The airport is at an elevation of 373 feet (114 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 17/35 with an asphalt surface measuring 2,700 metres (8,900 ft) by 45 metres (148 ft).[2]
Airlines and destinations
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Aero Contractors | Abuja, Lagos |
| Air Peace | Abuja, Lagos |
| Arik Air | Abuja, Lagos |
References
- 1 2 "Sam Mbakwe Airport - Owerri". Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- 1 2 3 Airport information for DNIM from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
- 1 2 Airport information for QOW at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
- ↑ List of the busiest airports in Africa
