China Jiangsu International, the firm that won the bid to modernise the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport under a US$153 million concessional loan facility from the China Eximbank, has moved on site to begin works.
The Chinese State-owned firm, which has prominent global presence, started works last week by levelling the VVIP side, where two aero bridges will be erected.
The upgrade of the RG Mugabe International Airport will conclude in 36 months.
The US$153 million airport facelift will bring in new technologies and efficiency in the facilitation of passengers, aircraft and cargo.
Three additional aero bridges, a new satellite fire station, a modern terminal building and a new VVIP pavilion are some of the key features to be added to the RG Mugabe International Airport.
Passenger handling capacity will also rise to six million per annum from the current 2,5 million.
The car park will be transformed into a multi-storey facility with capacity to handle hundreds of vehicles.
The runway will be expanded to allow for concurrent multiple landings, as opposed to the current situation whereby planes land one at a time.
Equally, China Jiangsu was the contractor for the Victoria Falls International Airport rehabilitation.
The Victoria Falls International Airport was commissioned on November 18, 2016 and has been recording a monthly average growth rate of 20 percent in passenger movement.
A number of airlines are now landing in Victoria Falls while others have increased seat numbers to meet demand.
The renovation of the RG Mugabe International Airport is in tandem with overall efforts to give a facelift to all airports and eventually construct new ones, especially in Beitbridge and Mutare.
Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (Caaz) director of airports Mr Tawanda Gusha recently said Government is committed to improving the aviation sector.
Note: Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airpot formerly known as the Harare International Airport is Zimbabwe’s biggest airport.It was renamed on the 9th of November 2017 from Harare International Airport to Robert Gabriel Mugabe international Airpot in honor of President Robert Gabriel Mugabe. It is located 15 km south of Harare’s central business district and acts as the link between Harare and the outside world. It is the main gateway from the southern tip of the continent into the inner central part of Africa. The Harare International Airport is the major international aviation gateway to Zimbabwe. It is operated by Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe.
Source: The Sunday Mail. Zimbabwe