Zambia denies exorbitant airport fees

‘In line with ICAO standards’ Stanslas Chisanga ZAMBIA’S NATIONAL Airports Corporation Limited (NACL) has refuted claims that its landing and other airport fees are the most exorbitant in the world. In a statement released to FTW, NACL public relations manager Geoffrey Chipolyonga stated that over-flying and landing fees at all the NACL-run airports in Zambia were in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and recommended practices. In calculating over-flying and landing fees, the Corporation takes into account costs relating to each aircraft type and fees are then based on the weight of the aircraft. “It is a gross exaggeration to say that many aircraft operators are avoiding Lusaka International Airport because of high landing fees charged outside normal operational hours,” Chipolyonga told FTW. He further advised that it was a normal procedure to surcharge aircraft that operate outside normal working hours in order to recoup costs associated with staff mobilisation and other operational logistics. The flow of traffic to any airport is not dependent on landing fees but rather on passengers. At the moment, Lusaka International Airport handles 10 scheduled airlines amongst which South African Airways, British Airways and DAS Air Cargo are prominent. There are also several charters with passenger throughput of about 400 000 in the year 2004. In order to enhance operations and improve on service delivery to customers, the Corporation has invested heavily in modernisation of the airport infrastructure in Zambia, he said.