FAAN reduces passenger facilitation process to 45mins at Lagos airport

…renovates, automates D-wing terminal

Before now, it took about three hours to process passengers departing to other countries from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), as a result of multiple checks, dilapidated infrastructure and slow passenger movements.

From multiple luggage checks to unfriendly airport environments, passengers who passed through the airport had narrated one ordeal or another that resulted in a delay in movement at the airport.

However, with recent innovations and automations deployed at strategic areas at Lagos airport by Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the narrative has changed as passengers’ ordeal has long turned into reforms, making the passenger experience at the airport better.

From an average of three hours, the duration of passenger facilitation has now reduced to 45 minutes, owing to recent innovations by the FAAN.

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A recent visit by BusinessDay to the D-wing departure side of the MMIA old terminal shows a total renovation and expansion done to accommodate more passengers.

The D-wing departure area has been expanded to accommodate more passengers and allows for passengers to scan their boarding passes before accessing the immigration areas at the airport. This scanning process is contactless and driven by technology.

Inside the D-wing area, there are six passport control for immigration and one fast track manned by the Department of State Security (DSS) and immigration personnel.

The ambience of this wing gives a feel of warmth and beauty with well-placed artwork, each telling a story about Nigeria.

There are natural flowers planted in strategic areas that appeal to the eyes.

The new passenger facilitation process that complies with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements is that a passenger flows through an airport terminal within 45 minutes from vehicle entrance to inside the airport terminal and 45 minutes from coming off the plane to going out.

During a brief chat with a passenger travelling through the terminal, she confirmed to BusinessDay that passenger facilitation is no longer a long process.

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“The Lagos airport D wing has more counters processing passengers. And then the new design has taken into consideration all the enhanced facilities to reduce the requirements. So it just increases the throughput of passengers, and it’s easier. And you can see the ambience is a lot more modern,” the passenger told BusinessDay.

She said the eGates made things a lot better, and the passport reader is much quicker.

“In the past, you had to fill out the immigration forms. It’s all automated now. From the entrance of the eGates, you put in your passport. By the time you are inside, the personnel just check your passport.

“FAAN has just brought brand new scanners for aviation security personnel. So the process is very quick now and easier. A passenger doesn’t need to ask questions anymore”, she said.

BusinessDay findings show that the normal experience for departure is that it was about two hours before the flight. During COVID, it increased to three hours before the flight. Right now, passengers can get processed in less than an hour.

“We have more wings at the terminal now. We have D and E wings, and Terminal 2. The scanner has helped because physical searching has been reduced, which also causes delays. FAAN has been trying to streamline that process with regards to screening,” an official at the airport told BusinessDay.

The official described the improvement under this new management as, 2,000 percent improvement.

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“Everywhere you go, there’s an input and a touch from FAAN. As they say, what men can’t do, women have done better,” another elated passenger had said.

Recall that FAAN earlier acquired and deployed new AI-powered security machines that replaced Customs tables erected at the entrance of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) terminal.

The Orion 927DX machines bought by FAAN have the capacity to exhibit images in the Classic 4-colour and the new proprietary Spectrum 4-colour (SP4) option, providing superior image, allowing improved security by quick and accurate identification of threats and an increase in throughput.