From Uche Usim, Abuja

Local and international airlines have returned to their normal schedules as the harmattan haze that disrupted their operations, especially in northern airports for days running, has begun to clear, paving way for improved visibility.

Checks by Daily Sun, yesterday evening, showed that flights departed on schedule, except for local operators that had other challenges.

Virtually all flights to the north were successfully operated, a development that gladdened air travellers.

Maiduguri reported a visibility of 1.5 km or 1,500 metres yesterday and had flights operated into its airport.

Airline staff said Sokoto, Kebbi and Yola also had good visibilities for flight operations.

Weather alert from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) for December 26 indicated that most parts of the central cities like Abuja, Minna, Bida, Lafia, Jos, Makurdi, Lokoja, Akure, Owerri, Port Harcourt, and Ilorin would experience thick dust haze with visibilities expected to be around 1,000 metres and could plunge lower in the next 10hours or less from time of issuance.

Also, most parts of Northern Cities, such as Sokoto, Katsina, Maiduguri, Kano, Yelwa, Gusau, Damaturu, Nguru, Bauchi and Zaria were to experience reduction in horizontal visibilities in about six hours from time of issuance. Visibility would be less than 400 metres, especially over Nguru, Kano, Katsina and Maiduguri, the weather alert had said.

Recall that flights to Kano and Yola airports were cancelled on Monday  due to bad weather as the harmattan haze originating from the Sahara Desert emptied dust plumes in most cities in the north, thus, reducing visibility to about 400 metres.

Tuesday was a total shut down of northern states destination as no flight operated into Kano, Maiduguri, Kebbi and Sokoto.

Aviation experts, however, insisted that Nigeria is ripe to have airports and airplanes that can land in zero visibility, using auto-land mechanisms.