[2019-04-29] New Luanda international airport could start operating in 2022/2023

Source: Macauhub

The construction of Luanda’s new international airport is expected to be completed in 2022/2023, with financial resources being secured through a credit line granted by China, a public official said.

Mário Domingues, coordinator of Angolan airport and air navigation company ENANA, said that a technical team is carrying out an evaluation of the work and should submit a report by the end of June.

“The report from the technical team will serve as the basis for the preparation of a new work programme, and the airport is expected to start operating in 2022/2023,” he said.

The Angolan government wants the new facility to be as modern as possible and to meet the standards of the international civil aviation organisation, said Domingues, in statements to Rádio Nacional de Angola.

Construction is being carried out by the China International Fund Limited (CIF), which was hired by the Angolan government for US$3.8 billion, with the equipment ordered from the China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation for US$1.4 billion.

Last week the Economic Commission of the Council of Ministers approved the process of restructuring and de-merger of ENANA.

The company was transformed into a commercial company with fully public capital, called Sociedade Nacional de Gestão de Aeroportos, with the purpose of operating civil aviation airport services.

National air navigation company, Empresa Nacional de Navegação Aérea, was also set up to explore the air navigation business, thus separating the responsibilities related to air navigation and airport exploration and management activities.