New MMA2 slot policy to solve terminal congestion, enhance airlines performance

• First private terminal to introduce precision-based system in Nigeria

For years, the experience at major Nigerian airports during peak hours was predictable: a sea of passengers packed into check-in halls, long security queues stretching toward the entrances, and a symphony of delayed announcements echoing through the terminals.

The recent rollout of the slot system at MMA2 represents the first time a private terminal in Nigeria has moved away from a first-come, first-served model to a precision-based system.

Years after mulling the idea, BASL has finalised plans to introduce it at the terminal as a central pillar of its policy for terminal, airport decongestion, and on-time performance for domestic airlines.

In aviation, a slot is not just a parking space. It is a specific time window—usually in 30-minute intervals—allocated to an airline to arrive or depart at an airport. Without a slot system, airlines often schedule flights based solely on commercial demand, leading to bunching.

If five airlines all schedule a Lagos-to-Abuja flight at 7:00 AM because that is when passengers want to travel, the terminal’s security and boarding gates become overwhelmed.

Previously, domestic airlines would bunch their schedules—for example, five different airlines scheduling a 7:00 AM departure to Abuja. This has continued to cause massive congestion at security, check-in, and the gates.

The new system requires airlines to spread departures across 15- to 30-minute windows, aligning demand with the terminal’s physical capacity to ensure passenger processing remains fluid and ground handling companies can deploy staff more effectively.

Head of Aeronautics & Cargo Services and Acting Chief Operating Officer of BASL, Remi Jibodu, stated that insights gained during last year’s peak season directly informed key efficiency-enhancing initiatives in 2026.

He said, “The year-end peak period highlighted the importance of structured coordination among all stakeholders operating within the terminal environment.”

 “In 2026, MMA2 will introduce a structured slot system to balance demand and capacity across the airport terminal. This initiative will improve aircraft movement coordination, reduce congestion throughout the terminal during peak periods, enhance on-time performance for our airline partners, and enable better planning and deployment by ground handling companies.”

According to Jibodu, the 2026 slot framework focuses on three pillars of capacity building by aligning flight schedules with the actual number of people the security checkpoints and waiting lounges can handle, apron management to ensure there is a designated parking spot and ground handling crew ready the moment an aircraft lands, preventing taxiway gridlock, and ground handlers to deploy staff precisely when needed, rather than having them idle during lulls and overwhelmed during peaks.

He added that the initiative forms part of MMA2’s broader operational optimisation strategy and reflects the terminal’s commitment to aligning operations with global best practices in apron and airside management.

Beyond aeronautical operations, Jibodu further disclosed that MMA2 also recorded significant successes across its non-aeronautical services, further strengthening the overall passenger experience.

Head, Space & Premises Management, Kola Bamigboye, noted that the year under review saw innovation and strong performance across customer-facing services.

“Over the past year, MMA2 achieved remarkable progress across its non-aeronautical services, driven by innovation and a deliberate focus on customer experience,” Bamigboye said.

“From retail and concession management to enhanced passenger amenities, our objective has been to deliver a convenient, comfortable, and engaging terminal environment. We are well-positioned to sustain this momentum in 2026 by continuing to innovate and elevate the customer journey.”

Security and passenger-support systems, he reiterated, recorded notable improvements during the year-end period, hinting that MMA2’s enhanced CCTV surveillance infrastructure played a critical role in monitoring terminal activities and facilitating the prompt recovery of several lost or forgotten items, including personal belongings and travel documents.

According to him, these items were successfully returned to their owners, earning commendations and positive testimonials from passengers who praised the terminal’s vigilance, professionalism, and responsiveness.

Wole Shadare