Zambia records increased air travel

ZAMBIA Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL) recorded a 38.4 per cent increase in domestic passengers for the first quarter of 2018, with 66,729 passing through the airports compared to 48,198 passengers the same period last year, communications and brand manager, Mweembe Sikaulu has announced.

And Ms Sikaulu said that international passenger movements also grew by 8.4 percent, from 320,185 passengers in the first quarter of 2017 to 347,232 passengers in the first quarter of 2018.

She pointed out that with 413,961 general passenger movements, ZACL recorded a positive growth for the first quarter of 2018, as passenger numbers increased by 12.4 percent when compared to the same period last year.

“Some notable factors that led to the positive performance include increased capacity on Lusaka – Johannesburg route, Rwanda solidified perfor- mance following the introduction of flights on the Lusaka – Johannesburg route, increased capacity on Lusaka – Harare Route and increased meetings Incentives Conferences and Events (MICE).

Ms Sikaulu also said in a statement that a stable Zambian currency stimulated cross border trade activities thereby stimulating passenger movements, contributed to the positive growth.

She further attributed the increased frequencies by Mahogany, reduced fares by both Proflight and Mahogany Air stimulated traffic and the introduction of Ndola – Kasama flights by Proflight to the good performance.

Meanwhile, Ms Sikaulu said that during the first quarter of 2018, a total of 10,833 aircraft movements were recorded in the four designated airports, Kenneth Kaunda, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Mfuwe International Airports.

She pointed out that the same period in 2017 recorded 10,163 aircraft movements.