NAC outlines airport upgrade plans amid procurement hurdles
Phillipus JosefRundu
The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) says the condition and future of the country’s regional airports are at the centre of its development plans, but many of the long-promised upgrades still depend on ongoing procurement and funding processes. This comes from responses the company provided to Namibian Sun last week following questions about the state of airports at Katima Mulilo, Rundu and other locations.
NAC said it has already started a procurement process that will guide upgrades at Katima Mulilo, Rundu and Lüderitz airports, including new terminal buildings and supporting infrastructure.
The process, once finalised, will determine how much the projects will cost, how they will be financed and what comes next.
Modernising renovations
The company noted that Mpacha Airport in Katima Mulilo has seen some progress.
Its runway was rehabilitated last year at a cost of N$96 million, a project NAC says was necessary to keep the airport compliant with civil aviation safety standards.
NAC also told Namibian Sun that it intends to speed up land transfers for the Katima and Rundu airports and continue modernising Hosea Kutako International Airport through the planned Terminal 3.
It said these improvements are part of a bigger push to strengthen Namibia’s airport network as government moves to revive a national airline.
Asked how it decides which regional airports are prioritised, NAC said the choices are guided by national development goals and its own strategic plan, rather than only passenger numbers or traffic volumes.
Reshape travel
While NAC laid out the technical and policy side of the upgrades, the private airline FlyNamibia offered an on-the-ground view of what regional airport improvements mean for airlines and communities.
In its response to Namibian Sun last week, FlyNamibia said dependable regional airports are “essential to unlocking the full potential” of tourism and rural economic growth.
The airline described the Zambezi region as one of Namibia’s most exciting tourism frontiers and said it strongly supports the plan to upgrade Mpacha Airport to international status.
According to the airline, the ability to receive regional and long-haul flights directly in Katima Mulilo would reshape tourism and trade across the KAZA region and deliver real benefits to local communities.
FlyNamibia said it works closely with NAC and the works and transport ministry and remains committed to backing efforts that build “a stronger, more connected Namibia”. [email protected]
The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) says the condition and future of the country’s regional airports are at the centre of its development plans, but many of the long-promised upgrades still depend on ongoing procurement and funding processes. This comes from responses the company provided to Namibian Sun last week following questions about the state of airports at Katima Mulilo, Rundu and other locations.
NAC said it has already started a procurement process that will guide upgrades at Katima Mulilo, Rundu and Lüderitz airports, including new terminal buildings and supporting infrastructure.
The process, once finalised, will determine how much the projects will cost, how they will be financed and what comes next.
Modernising renovations
The company noted that Mpacha Airport in Katima Mulilo has seen some progress.
Its runway was rehabilitated last year at a cost of N$96 million, a project NAC says was necessary to keep the airport compliant with civil aviation safety standards.
NAC also told Namibian Sun that it intends to speed up land transfers for the Katima and Rundu airports and continue modernising Hosea Kutako International Airport through the planned Terminal 3.
It said these improvements are part of a bigger push to strengthen Namibia’s airport network as government moves to revive a national airline.
Asked how it decides which regional airports are prioritised, NAC said the choices are guided by national development goals and its own strategic plan, rather than only passenger numbers or traffic volumes.
Reshape travel
While NAC laid out the technical and policy side of the upgrades, the private airline FlyNamibia offered an on-the-ground view of what regional airport improvements mean for airlines and communities.
In its response to Namibian Sun last week, FlyNamibia said dependable regional airports are “essential to unlocking the full potential” of tourism and rural economic growth.
The airline described the Zambezi region as one of Namibia’s most exciting tourism frontiers and said it strongly supports the plan to upgrade Mpacha Airport to international status.
According to the airline, the ability to receive regional and long-haul flights directly in Katima Mulilo would reshape tourism and trade across the KAZA region and deliver real benefits to local communities.
FlyNamibia said it works closely with NAC and the works and transport ministry and remains committed to backing efforts that build “a stronger, more connected Namibia”. [email protected]
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