BASL Highlights What MMA2 Is Doing On Issues Discussed At ACI
Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal2 (MMA2) has highlighted what the operator is already doing about the ongoing discussions taking place at the Airports Council International (ACI) Africa Conference and Exhibition 2026 holding in Abuja, themed “Next-Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience.”
The issues are around next-generation airports, resilience, digital transformation and operational efficiency which are directly relevant to the challenges confronting growing aviation markets such as Nigeria.
According to the Head of Corporate Communications, BASL, Ajoke Yinka-Olawuyi says for airport operators, current level of recorded growth “means that capacity must be viewed beyond the physical size of a terminal. Infrastructure, airline scheduling, security deployment, road access, passenger-processing systems, technology and coordination among stakeholders must evolve together.
At Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), the response to this changing environment has involved continued investment in infrastructure as well as measures aimed at improving the efficiency of the entire passenger journey.”
She said “one of the key issues emerging from the growth in passenger traffic is the concentration of airline operations within particular periods of the day.
At MMA2, a significant volume of airline schedules is concentrated around the 7:00 a.m. peak window, placing pressure on several components of the passenger journey simultaneously. However, the terminal has available capacity outside this highly concentrated period.
BASL is therefore engaging with airlines on the possibility of adopting a Level 2 schedule-coordination/slot system to better distribute demand across available capacity.
Such an approach requires close collaboration between the airport and airlines. The challenge is to ensure that any adjustment to flight schedules takes into consideration the commercial realities of airline operations, including passenger demand and potential revenue implications. Discussions with airlines are ongoing, with the objective of developing workable options that optimize available airport capacity while improving the passenger experience.”
“While security screening is an important component of the passenger journey, managing passenger flow effectively requires looking at the entire journey rather than focusing on a single point within the terminal.
BASL has been engaging with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) regarding the deployment of adequate Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel to effectively man the available screening infrastructure during peak periods. Discussions are ongoing, and FAAN is working towards solutions to address the operational requirements during periods of high passenger traffic.
BASL has also identified road traffic and access into the airport environment as another area requiring attention. Engagements have consequently been held with the Police Airport Command, Air Force authorities and other relevant security stakeholders to facilitate smoother movement of traffic into the airport and minimize delays before passengers reach the terminal.”
On technology and the Next Generation of passenger processing, she said “the response to growing passenger traffic also requires airports to look beyond conventional capacity expansion and explore technology-enabled solutions.
BASL is currently in discussions with its service partners on the digitization of key processes, with the objective of improving efficiency and reducing pressure on physical facilities.
Plans are also underway for the introduction of a No-Bag Zone, which will provide passengers travelling without checked baggage with a more streamlined check-in experience.
The terminal is also looking towards the application of Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) principles, which promote the sharing of operational information and greater coordination among airport stakeholders. The objective is to improve predictability, efficiency and decision-making across the airport ecosystem.”
On capacity building, “the developments at MMA2 reflect a wider reality facing the aviation industry: passenger growth is occurring at a pace that requires airport systems and processes to evolve continuously.
The discussions taking place at the ACI Africa conference around next-generation airports, resilience, digital transformation and operational efficiency are therefore directly relevant to the challenges confronting growing aviation markets such as Nigeria.
For BASL, the objective is to ensure that MMA2 continues to evolve with the market, not only by expanding infrastructure, but by improving how existing capacity is utilized and how the various stakeholders involved in the passenger journey work together.
As passenger numbers and airline operations continue to increase, the future of airport efficiency will increasingly depend on capacity, coordination, technology and collaboration working together.
The focus, therefore, is not simply on managing today’s passenger traffic, but on building a more coordinated, technology-enabled and resilient airport operation capable of supporting the continued growth of Nigeria’s aviation sector,” she said.
