Zambia: Kenneth Kaunda International Airport expansion
By Nawa Mutumweno – The Zambian government and China Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic and Technical Cooperation have concluded negotiations for the expansion of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) at a cost of $385 million.
According to information obtained from National Airports Corporation (NAC), the terminal building, which is expected to be completed in four years, will have a capacity of four million passenger s per year. The works are expected to create 3 000 jobs.
‘’The long-awaited project to upgrade KK International Airport has finally come to fruition. This follows the conclusion of negotiations with the successful bidder, China Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic and Technical Corporation, at a cost of $385 million with a delivery period of 54 month,’’ NAC managing director Robinson Misitala said.
The contractor is expected to move on site soon to start the works. The programme will be done in phases to avoid major disruptions to the smooth running of the airport and avoid inconveniencing passengers, employees and the public.
The new infrastructure will have an airport hotel with an 80-room capacity, fuel farm, in-flight catering and airport hangars. It will also have six aero bridges and a 30-room transit hotel to accommodate passengers in transit.
Other amenities will encompass an office complex with conference facilities, a shopping mall, cargo facilities, rescue and fire services. There will also be a new aircraft parking area, car park, aircraft underground refuelling facility and stand-alone control tower. The existing terminal building will be rehabilitated.
‘’The project will create a number of jobs and it is expected that more than 3 000 workers of different skills will be employed during the construction period,’’ he pointed out.
The completion of the infrastructure upgrade will trigger an increase in passenger, cargo and aircraft movements at KKIA, which is poised to become a hub for international traffic. In the final analysis, the airport will be a major transit and regional centre of excellence for the distribution of cargo and passengers.
