AN ADDED BOOST : Ethiopia Airlines begins international flights from Enugu airport ... VanguardNews

The Federal Government, weekend, confirmed that Ethiopian Airlines would commence direct flights to and from Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, from Saturday, August 24, 2013.
This would be the first international flights to be operated into the South East geo-political zone of the country, barely two years after the airport in Enugu was accorded international status.
Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, who disclosed this in Abuja, said she had already written President Goodluck Jonathan informing him of the airlines’ inaugural flight.
She said the airport’s designation as an international airport was part of the aviation master plan of the present administration to give every zone in the country the opportunity to grow its full potentials in economic and social development.
With the foray of Ethiopian Airlines into Enugu, businessmen and other travellers from all the states of the South East as well as Edo and Delta now have the option of making their international travels through Enugu, rather than erstwhile reliance of far-aay Lagos and Abuja.
General Manager, Corporate Communication, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Yakubu Dati, said President Jonathan’s administration had fulfilled his promise of giving every part of the country equal opportunity to develop and realise its dreams.
According to him, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, was designed and built by the former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme when he was only 26, while his vision of many years is now being fulfilled.
He said: “This Minister of Aviation has shown her determination to actualise the goals of the aviation master plan which the Jonathan administration has pegged its transformation agenda which objectives include giving every part of the country and every citizen the opportunity to grow to his full potential.
“With the international flight operations at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, a novel opportunity has been given to the people of the South East zone to expand their business horizon without stress and the inconveniences of having to travel far to catch international flights.”