Realising its potential
New master plans are in the process of being fi nalised for Zambia’s key business, mining and tourism gateways, writes Lucy Siebert.
Z
ambia’s airports are in line for a major overhaul under plans championed by the country’s National Airports Corporation, and with the country experiencing strong economic growth driven by the copper mining industry, the upgrades come not a moment too soon.
The key commercial gateway of Lusaka and the mining hub of Ndola are in line for upgrades to accommodate growing traffi c, primarily driven by Chinese investment in the copper mining sector, explains Prince Chintimbwe, director of airport services at the National Airports Corporation of Zambia.
He adds that the tourism havens of Livingstone, on the doorstep of the Victoria Falls, and Mfuwe, the gateway to the South Luangwa National Park, will also be expanded. With Lusaka’s new international terminal development expected to cost about $200 million, that master plan will be referred to the government for approval. However, Chintimbwe points out that the upgrade is vital for Zambia’s capital city gateway.
“These airport upgrades are needed due to the overall growth in the Zambian economy, plus the development is long overdue. Lusaka [airport] was built in 1967 and has had no major redevelopment since then. This redevelopment is part of a long-term planning process,” says Chintimbwe.
He explains that the country’s economy has been growing at about 6% per year over the past fi ve years and points out that the Chinese, in particular, are investing in Zambia’s resources and minerals and setting up businesses in the country. “There has been a surge in business with the Middle East and Far East,” he
50
says. “It is worth noting that the government has prioritised mining, agriculture and tourism as the key economic growth areas. However, commerce without effi cient and reliable transport systems is stifl ed at the moment, so there is a need to modernise the country’s gateways,” he says. The modernisation plans from Leigh Fischer (formerly called Jacobs Consultancy) under a USTDA grant, recommend that Lusaka gets a new international terminal, along with extended aircraft manoeuvring areas, upgraded service facilities and increased commercial space.
Costs are expected to be in the region of $200 million, however funds have yet to be secured for the project.
The National Airports Corporation has consulted with Lusaka’s airlines throughout the process. These currently include: Air Botswana, Air Namibia, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airways, British Airways, South African Airways, South African Airlink, Angolan Airways, Air Malawi, Air Zimbabwe, Zambezi Airlines and Profl ight. However, with the Chinese market continuing to take such a keen interest in Zambia’s resources, Chintimbwe is hopeful that Lusaka will be announcing new service from one of the Gulf carriers within the next year.
While work at Lusaka still needs the fi nal go-ahead, in the south, Livingstone’s transformation is already underway. This once-sleepy tourist town has undergone a dramatic transformation in the past decade. According to Chintimbwe, Livingstone Airport welcomed 30,000 passengers in 2001. This had grown to 250,000 by 2009, driven almost wholly by tourism.
The Victoria Falls form the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and
www.routes-news.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84