Billions being invested in African airports

Air terminal operators across Africa are investing billions of dollars in new infrastructure for both freight and passengers. According to the CAPA Centre for Aviation Airport Construction and Capex database, US$33.8 billion is currently being invested, or is intended to be invested, in construction and associated projects at existing airports on the African continent. It has identified 77 projects spread over nine countries and with an average spend of US$440m. In southern Africa alone FTW has seen major airport investments in Harare, Maputo, Beira, Walvis Bay, Lusaka and Ndola over the past two years. This is in addition to upgrades in South Africa. A new airport is being built at Nacala in northern Mozambique, and there are plans for a new hub outside Ndola in Zambia, as well as the Coega Industrial Development Zone in South Africa. Other countries making significant investments in airport infrastructure and freight ground handling capacity are Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Rwanda, Tanzania, Liberia, Kenya, Uganda, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Financing is being supplied by a variety of institutions, including China’s Export-Import Bank, the European Investment Bank, the World Bank, the Saudi Fund for Development and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa. CAPTION Harare Airport ... major airport investments under way. Photo credit: Mark Conard