The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) says the aviation industry is on the mend after a downturn due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, with the airports operator recording a 54% increase in passenger movements between the months of July and August 2021.
The comes as the NAC which has invested N$95 million of its own resources into the N$250 million expansion of Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) said it was not concerned about the likelihood of the airport being underutilized when the project is complete at the end of September 2021.
“Not at all. The aviation industry is currently under recovery and this has been reflected by the resumption of a number of airlines as well as the increase in passenger movements which stood at from 13 000 in July 2021 to 20 000 in August 2021.”
The HKIA expansion project which will see an improved and expanded terminal 1 and terminal 2, is aimed at doubling the handling capacity of the country’s biggest airport to accommodate increased passenger movements up until 2030.
Notable changes besides the facelift, will include an increase in check-in counters to a total of 18 counters with additional five self-service check-in kiosks, an increase in the departure security screening points from two to five, with the baggage reclaim facility increased from two to five.
