Commodities
Invest in airport expansion to grow aviation sector – official
A plane ushered in at Entebbe Airport. A master plan to expand the airport is in the offing. PHOTO BY FAISWAL KASIRYE.
In Summary
Entry of new airlines in the past few years and growth in passenger traffic have constrained facilities at the airport.
LONDON/ KAMPALA
A British Airways (BA) official has urged authorities in charge of Entebbe International Airport to invest in airport infrastructure to grow the country’s aviation industry.
Speaking to journalists during the media tour of BA’s £5 billion (Shs19.9 trillion) Terminal five in London recently, Mr George Mawadri, the British Airways East Africa commercial manager, said failure to build aviation infrastructure to meet the growing demand may render the destination unattractive, and force airlines to use other airports as hubs. “Countries have to invest in airport infrastructure to grow from an aviation perspective, handle growth and support investments in the industry,” Mr Mawadri said.
Peak hours
The airport mainly gets busy and congested during peak hours (12pm to 3pm) as that is the time most airlines that ply the Entebbe route either fly in or out.
The entry of new airlines in the past few years and growth in passenger traffic which have been supported by growth of the tourism industry and the discovery of oil, have constrained facilities at the airport.
Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) traffic statistics show that there were 1.2 million visitors in 2012, up from 1 million in 2010 and 930,000 in 2009. Although the CAA Uganda has a master plan to expand or even construct a bigger airport terminal, it is yet to kick off.
Expansion plans
CAA managing director Rama Makuza, however, told this newspaper that a consultant has been identified to develop the master plan that will include among others, expanding the aircraft parking apron and the passenger building terminal to accommodate the growing aircraft, passenger traffic.
The car parking area will also be expanded, a bigger and modern cargo terminal built and an aircraft maintenance centre be put in place to provide airlines with full service.
fkulabako@ug.nationmedia.com
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