Namibia plans massive airport upgrade

LEONARD NEILL
THE NAMIBIAN government has announced a
R256,5-million airports upgrade and development plan which will make Walvis Bay airport one of only 14 in the southern hemisphere capable of accommodating freighter aircraft the size of Boeing 747s and Airbus 380s.
In addition funds have been made available to upgrade other airports in the country and to develop four new stations which will provide suitable landing arrangements for smaller freighters in developing mining regions.
These moves will provide a major boost to the country’s trade and economy, says Transport Minister Moses Amweelo, who has revealed that a Spanish consortium, Inepade, will finance the development and will work on a two-year project with his department.
By end 2006 Walvis Bay’s runway will be lengthened to 3 440m and widened to 60m, making it bigger than the country’s main Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) outside Windhoek. A new taxiway, apron and access road will be built and a 10m security fence erected, together with runway and approach lights.
Installing state of the art landing systems will also make Walvis Bay an ideal stop-over for flights operating between southern Africa and the US, or between Asia and South America, says the minister.
The project will enable the installation of superior quality aeronautical and airport equipment at KHIA, Eros (central Windhoek) and LŸderitz. Modern equipment is to be installed at the remote airports of Oshakati, Opuwo, Outjo, Rehoboth and Keetmanshoop. The four new stations are to be established at Maroelaboom, Roessing, Omaere and Stampriet.