Bisey /Uirab, CEO of the Namibia Airports Company (NAC), has announced plans to build new infrastructure. This, as the company prioritises the construction of new terminal buildings at three airports: Katima Mulilo, Rundu and Lüderitz. /Uirab said two more airports – Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) and Walvis Bay International Airport – had been issued with long-term certification. He said the NAC had maintained the interim aerodrome certificates and licences for the other airports during the period under review.According to /Uirab, aircraft volumes for the financial year ended March 2023 totalled 43 505, which represents a 123% improvement over the previous year. “These facilities will be further developed, along with Lüderitz Airport, for the expansion of infrastructure – an expansion that will include the construction of new terminal buildings.” The company aimed to develop master plans for all the eight airports based in Namibia, he added. Dr Leake Hangala, chairman of the NAC, said licensing for all the other NAC airports was ongoing, in keeping with the company’s licensing plans and its implementation of corrective action plans.Citing infrastructural and service improvements at the airports over the 2022/23 financial year, Hangala said these took the form of apron and taxiway refurbishments at Katima Mulilo Airport and Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo Airport.The company also oversaw the successful completion of the congestion alleviation project at HKIA to the tune of N$250 million.“Air connectivity is an integral part of the value chain required to promote air transport and economic development,” said Hangala. “We continue to focus on increasing both aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenue for the company.” Additional plans include developing a third terminal at HKIA, extending its VIP/V VIP facilities to the tune of N$18 million and expanding the airport apron at a cost of N$100 million. Last year saw the following airlines increase their f light frequencies to Namibia: TA AG Angola Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways and Airlink.Plans for Lüderitz Airport had been escalated, said Hangala. These were prompted by the requirements of the oil and gas sector and by green hydrogen initiatives. “While the runway is suitable in the short term, we need to revamp the landside facilities entirely to accommodate this sector.” Statistics released by the Namibia Statistics Agency covering the fourth quarter of 2023 show that exports by air cargo consist mainly of diamonds. In September, a total of N$2.7 billion – representing 34.9% of total exports – left the country by air and comprised mainly diamonds. On the import side, 2.9% of total goods imported reached Namibia via air. The goods consisted mainly of electro-diagnostic apparatus (for medical and telecommunications equipment) and aircraft and associated equipment. In October, air transportation accounted for 24.4% of exports, with non-monetary gold and diamonds being the main units. In terms of imports, 3.5% of total goods imported reached Namibia via air; they consisted mainly of telecommunications equipment and measuring and controlling instruments. In November, goods exported via air accounted for 34.8% of total exports, again comprising mainly diamonds and non-monetary gold. Import-wise, 3.3% of total goods imported reached Namibia via air; they consisted mainly of non-electrical machinery, telecommunications equipment and printed matter. The statistics show that in December, a total of N$5.5 billion – representing 47.8% of total exports – left the country by air. This was an increase of 36.2% compared to November. The basket of exports via air consisted mainly of diamonds, non-monetary gold and printed matter.
