Page 17 - World Airnews Magazine May 2021 Edition

CHARTER AIRPORTS

KENYA CHARTER FLIGHTS RG MUGABE INTERNATIONAL

BOOST TOURISM ARRIVALS AIRPORT PROGRESS

By Wallace Mawire

he Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ)

enya will rely on charter flights to Thas announced that the upgrade of the Robert

Kboost tourism numbers during the Gabriel Mugabe International airport should be com-

challenging COVID-19 pandemic period, a plete by the first quarter of 2023.

government official said recently. According to CAAZ engineer Shamiso Makova,

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary speaking on behalf of Tawanda Gusha CAAZ, director
Najib Balala said the charter flights Kenya of airports, the project is set to change Harare’s skyline

is receiving signals the growing confidence with a modern, attractive, upgraded and extended

in the country's tourism products and pre- international terminal building.

paredness against COVID-19. “The extension is set to increase the passenger
"I thank the marketers and travel agents handling capacity of the airport from the current 2,5

who are working tirelessly to bring visitors million passengers per annum to six million passengers
to Kenya. I assure you of the government's per annum,” Makova said.
support, we need to all work together to On completion, the terminal building will have an

revive the sector fully," Balala said in Mom- extra four air-bridges bringing the total to seven.

basa after receiving the first-ever flight Rehabilitation of the runway and taxiways are

from Ukraine to Kenya. underway, which includes the installation of runway,

The flight operated by Bees Airline, a taxiway and apron lights.

Ukrainian charter operator and marketed According to CAAZ, the airport will also have added
by Travel Professional Group (TPG), landed "I am glad to note the progress that we are severely affected by the global COVID-19 key airspace management systems in the form of

in Kenya carrying 189 visitors from Ukraine. making as a destination in attracting tourists pandemic. secondary surveillance radar, navigational aids systems

Of the 189 passengers in the flight, 21 from different markets," Balala said. Balala said the Ukrainian market presents and Doppler Very High Frequency Omni Range (DVOR).
were travel agents traveling for product Kenya last month received the first-ever an opportunity to push beach and wildlife It is reported that DVOR when collocated with

knowledge and to sample Kenyan tourism Romanian charter in Kenya carrying 200 vis- products that resonate well with the con- Distance Measuring Instrument (DME) provides both

products and offering in order to sell the itors. That flight had five rotations into the sumers from the country. the angle and slant distance of aircraft with respect to

destination to consumers in their country. country with another one expected soon. The arrival numbers from Ukraine have ground station.

Balala said that the flight was testament "We must ensure that we explore all the been incremental over the last few years The upgrade project began with a target

to the advancements Kenya is making in available markets and tap into them. This with Kenya receiving 1,523 visitors in 2017 completion by January 2022. Despite progress in

markets which are not deemed traditional is especially now more important with and 1,892 visitors in 2019. 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic had an adverse effect
source markets for Kenya's tourism. there being less travel across the globe," Currently, there is great opportunity to on the project.

He said that the destination's tourism Balala said. grow the numbers through charters espe- “With the two shutdowns, the pandemic extended

products resonate well with the needs of He said the flight had come at an import- cially due to the challenging environment the completion period by about a year. The project

consumers from the Eastern European ant time and provided hope for the recov- brought about by COVID-19 pandemic, is now expected to be completed by the first quarter

region. ery of the Kenya's tourism which had been Balala said. Q of 2023. Work on site has however, not come to a

complete standstill as the installation of the roof is now
underway,” Makova said.
UAV The development is being funded by a Chinese

company China Jiangsu International to the tune of
(US) $153 million, but managed and supervised by the
Airports Company of Zimbabwe and local consultants.
UPS EXPLORES eVTOLs complete while the installation of the roof, concrete

The international terminal building works are 35%

works, electrical and mechanical infrastructure is ongoing.

Express Air delivery network. The pro- quickly than if the packages were being The airfield ground lighting is targeted for completion

gramme is been overseen by its Flight delivered via small fixed-wing planes by end of June 2021 while the air navigation systems are

PS is buying 10 electric vertical Forward division, which is also exploring that require an airstrip. estimated to be installed by the end of the year.

Uaircraft as it a� empts to drone delivery. The aircraft have a 250-mile range This is the second airport development project in

improve delivery times in small and UPS expects to begin receiving the and cruising speed of up to 170 miles Zimbabwe by the China Jiangsu company. The first was

mid-size markets. planes in 2024. There's an option to buy per hour. the upgrade of the Victoria falls international airport
in 2016. This trebled the airport’s annual passenger

eVTOLs are a cross between a helicop- up to 150 aircraft. It is hoped that the aircraft will allow handling capacity to 1,5 million.

ter and a fixed-wing airplane, meaning Financial terms of the deal were not UPS to plan a series of short routes, or
they can fly at higher speeds, as well as disclosed. one long route, on a single charge. The upgrade of the R.G Mugabe airport is also

ascend and descend vertically. The beta aircraft have a 1,400-pound The planes can charge in an hour expected to result in more international airlines

opening routes into Harare and a corresponding

The Atlanta delivery company said cargo capacity, so they'll be able to or less and produce zero operational

it will test the eVTOLs for use in its transport time-sensitive deliveries more emissions. Q increase in tourist arrivals. The RG Mugabe airport,
which has one of the longest runways in Africa was last
upgraded in 2001. Q
World Airnews | May 2021 World Airnews | May 2021
— 14 — — 17 —