An ambitious project to renovate, expand and modernize the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) has started and is expected to be completed in 23 months’ time.
BAM International of Netherlands is the firm which will be executing the project involving rehabilitation and extension of the airport’s taxiways, runways and aprons as well as renovating and extending the terminal buildings.
Kilimanjaro Airport Development Company (KADCO) Managing Director, Mr Bakari Murusuri inked the agreement between the airport management and BAM International officials Mr Harko Kloeze, East and Central Africa’s Managing Director and Eric van Zuthem, the Area Manager based in Tanzania. BAM International, a subsidiary of Royal BAM Group', one of Europe's largest contracting companies active in construction, property and civil engineering, will be revamping Kilimanjaro Airport at the tune of €37 million, an equivalent of 72 billion/-.
Built in 1971, KIA situated between Moshi and Arusha, the country’s second busiest terminal, has been handling an average of 900,000 passengers in a year with the figure expected to reach 1.2 million travellers by the end of 2015.
KADCO Director of Operations and Technical Services, Mr Christopher Mukoma explained that the airport upgrading will include the expansion of the terminal buildings, increasing the length and width of taxiways and runways, expanding aircraft aprons as well as establishing other essential services at the terminal.
“The scope of work comprises the refurbishment of the terminal building; construction of a new parallel taxiway; the extension of the existing apron and taxiways, including repairs on the runway; as well as the drainage and sewage works,” said Eng Mukoma.
BAM will also install new airfield ground lighting and floodlights along the aprons, resurface the runways, and create a continuous loop linking runways and taxiways to eliminate delays in landing and take-off.
KIA which is touted as the ‘Gateway to Africa’s Wildlife Heritage’ is experiencing an annual increase of 25 percent in passenger traffic and this year the management expects to handle nearly 1.2 million flying customers.
“After winning the Routes’ ‘best airport in Africa’ 2014 we are now working hard not only to maintain this status, but also to improve our services in order to become the world’s best airport and terminal of choice in the East African Region,” stated the Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company (KADCO)’s Operations Manager.
Dar-es-Salaam’s Julius Kamabarage Nyerere International Airport (JKIA), the country’s largest terminal handles an average of 1.5 million passengers in a year, but with KIA recording nearly 25 percent increase in annual traffic, coupled by the fact that the terminal is now undergoing massive upgrading and expansion, Kilimanjaro is getting itself in position to steal Dar-es-salaam’s passenger flow.
KIA which opened for business in 1972 was designed for just 200,000 passengers. Now it handles about a million and as a result massive expansion, rehabilitation and upgrading project which has just kicked off it will transform the northern-based International terminal into a force to reckon with especially after recent problems of Tanzanian vehicles being barred from accessing Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) located some 300 kilometres from KIA.
BAM will also install new airfield ground lighting and floodlights along the aprons, resurface the runways, and create a continuous loop linking runways and taxiways to eliminate delays in landing and take-off.
KIA which is touted as the ‘Gateway to Africa’s Wildlife Heritage’ is experiencing an annual increase of 25 percent in passenger traffic and this year the management expects to handle nearly 1.2 million flying customers.
“After winning the Routes’ ‘best airport in Africa’ 2014 we are now working hard not only to maintain this status, but also to improve our services in order to become the world’s best airport and terminal of choice in the East African Region,” stated the Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company (KADCO)’s Operations Manager.
Dar-es-Salaam’s Julius Kamabarage Nyerere International Airport (JKIA), the country’s largest terminal handles an average of 1.5 million passengers in a year, but with KIA recording nearly 25 percent increase in annual traffic, coupled by the fact that the terminal is now undergoing massive upgrading and expansion, Kilimanjaro is getting itself in position to steal Dar-es-salaam’s passenger flow.
KIA which opened for business in 1972 was designed for just 200,000 passengers. Now it handles about a million and as a result massive expansion, rehabilitation and upgrading project which has just kicked off it will transform the northern-based International terminal into a force to reckon with especially after recent problems of Tanzanian vehicles being barred from accessing Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) located some 300 kilometres from KIA.
The Netherlands’ Government is assisting in KIA expansion program, by channeling in 37 million Euros needed for the terminal rehabilitations. The Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) on the other hand, has also been a loyal company serving the airport for years.
Kilimanjaro International Airport currently handles a total of 12 scheduled airlines in addition to many other unscheduled charter planes but before the end of this year, it is expected that KIA will be a landing place to nearly 20 airlines.
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