Aviation picks up as over 2m passengers hit the skies

AFTER being severely hit by the Covid-19 pandemic which led to travel limits, Zambia’s aviation industry last year bounced back with a historic peak of above two million passengers, the highest number ever recorded in the country.

The start of flights by Mozambique Airlines into Lusaka and Fly Safair into Livingstone from Johannesburg, coupled with the introduction of new routes by Zambia Airways (Lusaka-Harare and Lusaka-Johannesburg) and Proflight Zambia (Lusaka-Cape Town) played a significant role in boosting passenger numbers.

Other factors included Government’s complete removal of Covid-19 requirements in March 2023 in addition to sporting events held in Zambia such as the Barcelona Legends vs Zambia Legends exhibition football match in May 2023 as well as the hosting of various meetings and conferences.

This is according to the Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL) acting Managing Director, Gillian Mazimba, at a media conference in Lusaka on Wednesday.

Ms Mazimba said Zambia’s aviation industry commenced on a good note with passenger numbers being at 98 percent of pre Covid-19 levels and even managed to move past pre Covid-19 levels by April 2023.

“In 2023, Zambia Airports Corporation Limited served 2, 056, 312 general passengers which is the highest number of passengers recorded by the corporation since its inception in 1989.

“This represents an increase of 24 percent when compared to 1, 653, 077 passengers recorded in 2022 and a recovery to pre Covid-19 levels of 111 percent when compared to 1, 850, 715 passengers recorded in 2019,” she said.

She pointed out that the highest recovery rate was at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport (SMKIA) at 123 percent recovery and the least was at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport (HMNIA) at 60 percent recovery.

She also noted that international passengers recovered by 103 percent with Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) recording the highest recovery of 115 percent. Going into 2024, Ms Mazimba said ZACL anticipated continued growth in general passenger traffic largely driven by trade and tourism at all airports.

“Domestic passengers recovered by 140 percent with all airports surpassing pre Covid-19 passenger levels. SMKIA recorded the highest recovery of 173 percent as the Lusaka-Ndola route was the busiest in the period under review.