NAC strategic projects underway
Safety improvements and runway expansion
The Namibia Airports Company will undertake several expansion projects at various airports to drive the company's growth towards becoming a transport hub in southern Africa.
The Namibian Airports Company (NAC) is planning various expansion projects that are intended to promote the company's growth and position Namibia as a future logistics hub.This builds on several expansion projects undertaken and completed to set the company on the path to prosperity.
The NAC completed the rehabilitation of the landing strip and runways at Katima Mulilo Airfield and Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo Airfield (Ondangwa).
The NAC also completed the procurement of new aircraft rescue and firefighting equipment at Walvis Bay International Airport (WBIA), costing over N$16 million. The NAC has also completed the project to decongest the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) at a cost of around N$250 million.
"This was done with the support and cooperation of the transport ministry to achieve full compliance in advance of the upcoming ICAO-USOAP-CMA audit scheduled for 6 to 18 March 2024," said NAC Board Chairman Leake Hangala.
Upcoming projects
The HKIA Apron Expansion Project is a necessary extension of the initiative to reduce congestion in terms of the volume and frequency of air traffic at the airport.
Namibia has set itself the goal of becoming a logistics hub and the construction of a cargo apron at WBIA contributes to the realisation of this goal. “The construction of an additional cargo apron will strengthen the status of the port city’s international airport as a potential cargo hub in the region. It is also expected to consolidate Namibia's goal of becoming a logistics hub and complement the completion of the National Ports Authority's (NamPort) dry port project," the NAC said.
“This is scheduled to be put into operation in 2026. This project will also increase the capacity of WBIA while meeting safety requirements. This is to meet the security requirements that impact the approval process for Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo Airport in the north. The project is expected to begin in the 2022/2023 financial year," the company said.
According to the NAC, security upgrades are also planned and ongoing at terminal buildings carried out in 2024 and 2028 at the airports at Rundu, Katima Mulilo and Lüderitz.