PLANS UNDERWAY TO REGENERATE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

By Ben Kangwa in Cincinnati, Ohio

National Airports Corporation (NAC) Limited Managing Director, Robinson Misitala says 19 bids from International and local companies have been received by his organization for expansion projects to replace out dated infrastructure at the four International airports in Zambia.

In his presentation on a panel discussion titled ‘AVIATION: SAFE SKIES FOR AFRICA SPACE INTEGRATION’ that is taking  place in Cincinnati, Ohio at the US-Africa Business Conference, Mr. Misitala says great business opportunities in infrastructure development now exist.

He said the Kenneth Kaunda International airport will be  under- going the most extensive expansion that will be phased over the next few years. A new terminal building designed for International arrivals and departures will replace the current facility at a cost of about US$200 million. Aprons and taxiways will also be constructed and additionally a new control tower will also be developed.

Mr. Misitala said the expansion program is based on a US$725,000 US funded study by the aviation  consultancy group, Leigh Fischer Associates.

According to the study, the Kenneth Kaunda International airport would become a major business and cargo port because of its geographical position in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

“Lusaka is destined to become the center of trade for Southern and Central Africa because of its central proximity in the sub region,” he added.

The NAC Managing Director also said the Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International airport, which is the gateway to the Victoria Falls, mainly attracts tourists from Europe and else- where via South Africa.

It will have a share of its construction program with a new concourse, a new international arrivals terminal, a drop off zone and walkways.

He noted that Zambia’s oldest airport, the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International in Ndola is in the country’s copper mining heartland. Against a background of the current copper investment interests mainly from China, Canada and Australia, there has been a growing passenger and mining related cargo.

He added,” There is a growing interest from regional airlines to tap into the growing numbers at the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International airport stimulated by the mining activity on the Copperbelt.”

Mr. Misitala stated that under the proposed master plan, the National Airports Corporation will invest about US$25 million in a new passenger terminal.

As for Mfuwe International airport, he observed that there was great potential for the airport to become a major eco tourism destination owing to its gateway to the Luangwa National park. As such there was need to upgrade the airport.

According to the Leigh and Fisher study, a new flexible open terminal which is designed to specifically present the “right atmosphere” to arriving tourists would be ideal.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Misitala told his audience that a number of International Airlines were increasing the use of the four International airports and as a result a phenomenal increase in traffic had been recorded.

“Interestingly, in February 2012, Emirates Air launched a five times a week direct flight to Dubai. This was followed in May 2012 by KLM, the Royal Dutch Airlines which flies to Lusaka three times a week. This month (June 2012) another airline, Precision Air from Tanzania will introduce a flight from Dar-es-Salaam to Lusaka,” he said.

Other speakers on the panel who presented papers included Susan McDermott, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs at the US Department of Transportation. She mainly focused her discussion on Security and Safety standards in the air travel industry.

Rick Angiuoni, the Director of Africa Global Business Development Division of the Export-Import Bank of the United States talked about investment opportunities in the air industry in Sub Saharan Africa while Fernando Prieto, the Senior Project Manager at LPA Group briefed the meeting on projects his organization had successfully carried out at airports in West and East Africa.

The Marketing Director- Market Development and Analysis (EMEA) at Delta Airlines  Jina Sanone said Delta is in the process of expanding its services to Africa. Currently, the airline flies to South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana.

She was asked if the airline would consider expanding its services to Lusaka against a background of Zambia becoming a hub for Southern and Central Africa.  She said at present Delta was studying the KLM traffic flow to Zambia and would only determine after a thorough study was carried out.

The US- Business Conference closed today marking the official end of conferences and networking between the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) eligible countries and the US business partners.

The writer is the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Washington DC.