‘ONLY TWO AIRPORTS ARE FULLY OPERATIONAL’

INFRASTRUCTURE deficiencies to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 has slowed down the complete re-opening of Zambia’s international airports. So far, two runways have so far resumed full operations. Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) and Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula have resumed full operations as Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe is in the process of setting up the infrastructure, while Mfuwe awaits a verification visit. This is according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General, Gabriel Lesa. In March this year, President Edgar Lungu suspended international flights to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. The President however directed the immediate reopening of international airports in July with hope that the move would revive the economy and steer growth. Mr Lesa indicated that only two international airports were currently on full operations with infrastructure in place. “Ndola [Simon Mwansa] is also operational but they still have a few infrastructure challenges to ensure physical distancing but other than that, it is operational. “The problem with Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe is the infrastructure deficiencies. We have challenges with the configuration of the infrastructure to ensure that there will be adequate physical distancing,” he said in an interview. Mr Lesa explained that: “I know that we had requested that there were some issues that they needed to work on Mfuwe and I am reliably told that it was done, so it just a verification visit to confirm that the everything has been done for it to come online.” He however expressed confidence that the infrastructure which had been put in place was sufficient enough to curb the spread of Covid-19. Mr Lesa said he had confidence in the infrastructure which had been set up at KKIA and Harry Mwanga Nkumbula airports. On domestic flights resuming operations, Mr Lesa said: “Mahogany and Proflight have been ready all the time. Proflight has had periodic flights, including mahogany. They are not fully operational because the demand has not yet picked.” Mr Lesa said internationals flights such as Ethiopian Airlines had started operations in Zambia while Rwanda Air would resume on the 7th of this month. He explained that other flights such as Emirates would soon confirm.