ZACL records 11pc passenger growth
By AARON CHIYANZO ZAMBIA Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL) recorded a 10.9 percent passenger movement growth in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the same quarter in 2016, communications and brand manager, Mweembe Sikaulu has said
Ms Sikaulu said that about 456,821, arriving and departing, transit, domestic and international passengers passed through the designated airports in Zambia during the period under review.
She attributed the increase to the commencement of flights by Mahogany Air which had been steadily grown in passenger numbers.
Ms Sikaulu said that Proflight also increased frequencies between Lusaka and Ndola from three to four flights on selected days and had continued operating from Ndola to Kasama and Solwezi twice a week , increasing capacity and choice of travel times.
She pointed out that the increase in Zambia being used as a venue for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions had also an impact on the volume of passengers.
Ms Sikaulu said in a statement that in as much as the cholera outbreak in October had negatively impacted some travel decisions, there was increased travel during the festive period.
“With 456,821 general passenger movements, Zambia Airports recorded a positive growth for the fourth quarter of 2017; Passenger numbers increased by a staggering 10.9 % when compared to the same quarter in 2016,” she said.
Ms Sikaulu said that a stable currency and stable copper prices on the commodities market had also led to the increase in passenger movements.
Meanwhile, Ms Sikaulu said that 82,524 domestic passengers passed through the designated airports signifying a substantial growth spurt of 23.1 percent from 67,028 in 2016.
She said that international passenger movements grew by 8.6 percent from 344,783 passengers in the fourth quarter of 2016 to 374,297 passengers during the same period in 2017.
Ms Sikaulu outlined that Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport recorded a positive growth of about 20percent, while Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Mfuwe International Air- ports were positive against the budget performing at 20.2 percent and 2.5 percent respectively when compared to the same quarter in 2016. “At individual airport level, Kenneth Kaunda International Airport continued to be dominant with 105,191 paying passengers having been recorded,” she said.
Ms Sikaulu said that a total of 13,344 aircraft movements were recorded in the four main airports while 12,247 aircrafts were recorded in 2016.