Direct International Flights To Commence At Ibadan Airport Before End Of 2026 – Adekanmbi

The Chairman of the 11-man Committee on the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Mr. Bimbo Adekanmbi, has declared that direct international flight operations will officially kick off in Ibadan before the end of 2026.

Adekanmbi made this disclosure on Saturday while providing an update on the multi-billion naira infrastructure overhaul at the facility.

Addressing the current trend of airlines offering “Ibadan-to-London” tickets, the Chairman clarified that those services are currently indirect, involving a transit period in Abuja before heading to the United Kingdom.

“Those are not the direct flights we promised. They take off from Ibadan, transit through Abuja, and then continue to the UK. It is a good start, but our plan is to have direct international flights once the new terminal is completed,” Adekanmbi said.

According to the Committee Chairman, the construction of the international terminal—the heartbeat of the direct overseas flight plan—is currently between 40 and 50 percent completion.

Despite the ongoing work, he expressed optimism that the terminal would be ready for full operations before the 2026 calendar year runs out.

Adekanmbi emphasized that the project is not just a “prestige move” but is backed by a solid business case to ensure long-term sustainability.

He noted that the Governor Seyi Makinde administration intends to position Ibadan as a major aviation and cargo hub that can compete favorably with Lagos, thereby stimulating massive economic growth for Oyo State.

Daily flight operations to Abuja and other domestic destinations have already resumed fully as the state awaits the final certification of the international wing.