‘Unpopular’ new Swazi airport details outlined

PHYSICAL DETAILS and usage goals for Swaziland’s International Airport now under construction in the eastern hamlet Sikhuphe have been released by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. The ministry supervises construction of the Millennium Developmental Projects, which include the airport. The runway has been partly constructed. “The long term (usage) goal is for a regional network in Southern Africa and intercontinental traffic between Europe and the Middle East. Approximately 40 movements a day are expected in the initial years, with the airport open for 16 hours a day,” the ministry brief stated. “The airport comprises a single runway, approximately 3550 metres in length, on a true north/south alignment at an altitude of 325 metres,” the brief noted. A ministry source told FTW, “The airport will be a mix of high tech and highly serviced timecritical facilities to low tech basic buildings. “What we envision for the terminal building is usage of natural materials in construction, and for it to operate in an environmentally friendly fashion,” he said. The three-level terminal building will measure 7000 m2. A 1000 m2 cargo facility will be a high bay portal frame building with office accommodation and control areas. Support buildings including warehouses, workshops, a police station and a fuel farm will measure 2000 m2. The inconveniently located airport is also controversial because its R500m-plus price tag is criticised as being an inappropriate usage of national resources when other means are needed to boost a lagging economy. With the demise of Swazi Express Airways earlier this year, no air carrier is interested in using the new facility when it goes on line. The only airline currently serving the country, Airlink Swaziland, prefers to remain in the centrally located Matsapha Industrial Estate.