Hosea Kutako gets 3-month lifeline
The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) has received a three-month extension, in which it should make necessary renovations at the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) to prevent it from being downgraded.
The airport's licence was due to expire on 31 August. NAC spokesperson Dan Kamati confirmed that the airport would not be downgraded effective 1 September.
Previous NAC board chairperson Rodgers Kauta had warned that a failure to renovate the airport would lead to the withdrawal of Dutch airline KLM as well as reputational damage.
He added that other airlines such as Qatar and Eurowings could potentially withdraw, while airlines such as Emirates and Lufthansa that have agreements in place to fly to Namibia would reconsider, The Namibian reported earlier this year.
Hosea Kutako was downgraded by ICAO in 2014 after an inspection found that there were safety concerns, forcing Air Namibia's Frankfurt flights to divert to Gaborone, Botswana.
The World Bank had previously suggested that a turnkey approach be adopted to address the shortcomings at the airport, while finance minister Calle Schlettwein was asked to allocate N$145 million for the upgrade.
The upgrade would entail expanding the airport building, which includes the arrivals hall, expanding the luggage-claiming area, increasing the number of immigration counters, adding a luggage conveyor system and expanding the departures hall.
Other necessary improvements include the expansion of the check-in counter area of the terminal building, and increasing the security screening area.
Schlettwein, whose ministry must release funding for the upgrading of the airport, did not respond to a request for comment.
OGONE TLHAGE
The airport's licence was due to expire on 31 August. NAC spokesperson Dan Kamati confirmed that the airport would not be downgraded effective 1 September.
Previous NAC board chairperson Rodgers Kauta had warned that a failure to renovate the airport would lead to the withdrawal of Dutch airline KLM as well as reputational damage.
He added that other airlines such as Qatar and Eurowings could potentially withdraw, while airlines such as Emirates and Lufthansa that have agreements in place to fly to Namibia would reconsider, The Namibian reported earlier this year.
Hosea Kutako was downgraded by ICAO in 2014 after an inspection found that there were safety concerns, forcing Air Namibia's Frankfurt flights to divert to Gaborone, Botswana.
The World Bank had previously suggested that a turnkey approach be adopted to address the shortcomings at the airport, while finance minister Calle Schlettwein was asked to allocate N$145 million for the upgrade.
The upgrade would entail expanding the airport building, which includes the arrivals hall, expanding the luggage-claiming area, increasing the number of immigration counters, adding a luggage conveyor system and expanding the departures hall.
Other necessary improvements include the expansion of the check-in counter area of the terminal building, and increasing the security screening area.
Schlettwein, whose ministry must release funding for the upgrading of the airport, did not respond to a request for comment.
OGONE TLHAGE
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