THE Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL) recorded a positive growth for the first quarter of 2016.
In a press statement released yesterday by ZACL Communications and Brand Manager Mweembe Sikaulu, passenger numbers grew by six per cent when compared to the same period last year.
Records indicate that 355,263 passengers passed through the four international airports namely Kenneth Kaunda, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Mfuwe International Airports.
During the same period last year, 336,010 passengers used the airports meaning that this year there was a growth of nearly 20,000 passengers.
In the first quarter of the year, records show that domestic passenger numbers declined by 10 per cent while international passenger numbers grew by nine per cent.
Factors that influenced the growth include a relatively stable Zambian Kwacha, the recently held International Parliamentary Union and reduced cases of Ebola in West Africa.
“There was also a positive growth in total for Cargo and Mail which grew by 4.3 per cent when compared with the same period last year.
Cargo grew by 5% while mail declined by 26.8 per cent.
“Kenneth Kaunda International Airport as the largest gateway in the
country carried 71% of total general passenger movements in the first
quarter of 2016,” Ms Sikaulu said.
Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airports performed second and third respectively carrying 17 per cent and 11 per cent of total passengers.
Ms Sikaulu said the smallest Mfuwe International Airport carried one per cent of the total traffic.
Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport recorded the highest positive performance with a margin of 33 per cent, seconded by Kenneth Kaunda and Mfuwe International Airports against last year’s first quarter general passenger movement at five per cent and one per cent respectively.
Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport recorded a negative variance against last year’s first quarter at -3 per cent.
Ms Sikaulu said the construction of new terminals at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and the new Greenfield International Airport in Ndola as well as completion of the new terminal at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport would greatly improve facilitation and enhance customer experience, while refurbishment of Mfuwe would further spur growth.
Ugly airport without air-con, toilet water, toilet papers.!!
This positive news will not attract many comments. Imagine if it was about negative growth.
Looks like we are positively heading to be the connection centre of choice in Southern Africa. Domestic passenger numbers can be improved by dropping the cost of internal flights. I am sure most people would rather fly to get to their villages for visits than drive all day and night to criss cross across the country!
And someone went to France to ask for brand new Airbus so he could make a quick profit instead of working hard at home; I can bet you this number would be double that if we had a smart Tourism Minster other that the dull Jean Kapata who believes unsustainable tourism like trophy hunting.
Looking at the figures one can see that this ministry is underperforming in attracting tourists as the case of Mufwe Airport that has underperformed and there is no mention as what the percentage of traffic was domestic or foreign.
These Airports should be independent with their own CEO and be competing with each other to attract traffic…if a CEO is underperforming terminate his contract and get a new one….we need to encourage a performance driven culture in this sector.
“Cargo grew by 5% while mail declined by 26.8 per cent.”
Mail has declined as people are fed up with ZAMPOST.
39We Hard-core tribalists are the majority of people behind the UPND party. The tribalism tag cannot be wished way because they the Tonga have created a tribal tag for themselves whether it’s in work places or the communities where they live. Take Mr Magande for example he is the man that sourced funding to persecute bembas and easterners between 2001 and 2008. That agenda has not died; given a chance they will still persecute the two major tribes. Someone needs to apologise.
Would even be better if they opened up City Airport to local and regional flights only. Convinience would be key.
Me am Namwanga by tribe and all my family will vote for HH. Tribal talk belong to PF as long as HH will stir the economy we give him support
world citizen, siame ked and many others who talk ill about Zambia why don’t you just vanish from planet Earth and find wisdom else where. you guys condemn everything but you don’t tell us what you would do better. All you talk about is condemnation. Bushe muli mashilu nangu mwalipena? Mukakondema namafi yenu shikulu.
Is it in the Zambian gene to only see bad in everything? Why negative comments?