Bayelsa International Airport is the main airport serving Bayelsa State of Nigeria. Yenagoa is the capital city of the oil producing state. The airport which is the latest airport built in Nigeria is located at Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. The airport which was condemned by people before been built was commissioned in 2012 for construction by the state governor Seriake Dickson.
Bayelsa International Airport occupies 2,250 hectares of land. Two major helicopter operators were said to conduct operations in the airport before full operation. The airport was said to cost N60 billion to complete. It was built to improve the economy of the state as it will be used for local and international flights. The airport was built by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria. The governor of the state also stated that the airport would be able to handle flights by aircrafts such as the Boeing 777.
The first aircraft to land in Bayelsa International Airport is a boeing 737 operated by Air Peace Airline. It touched down on the 3.5 kilometer runway which is the longest in Nigeria. The first aircraft was operated by Capt. Crosby Otobo and his crew. They left the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos for the airport. The flight was welcomed by a record of overjoyed indigenes and residents of Bayelsa, including the state Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson and top government officials.
The airport was said to be managed by an experienced Middle East Airport operator. One of the largest Helicopter and Engine Manufacturer set up a sales and maintenance center for the African region in the airport. A South African Air Cargo company is said to operate at the Yenagoa hub. Smile Air, Ghana, also conduct hub air operations from Yenagoa and other Nigeria Airlines. Ticket can be booked from Jumia and Konga services.