A team of workers supervised by
engineers are putting finishing touches on some of the major sections of
Kigali International Airport as part of the expansion works.
Workers and trucks are seen
clearing the new apron – an airport parking – which according to
Rwanda
Airports (RAC) engineers is 53,000 square metres with capacity to
accommodate 18 aircraft.
Next to it is a newly completed
arrivals terminal for domestic flights, those that are operated by the
national carrier to and from local airports like Kamembe in Rusizi or
Rubavu, among others.
To the other side, a runway
strip grading is taking place, while a few metres away, a team of
electricians are installing public lighting on a new service road which
stretches 3.3 kilometres.
Kamanzi Kamana, the director of
engineering and maintenance at RAC, a company in charge of the airport
operations in the country, says such a road would minimize disruptions
or risks that may arise on ground.
“The new service road is meant
to curtail risks like accidents that may occur when vehicles are
crisscrossing around the airport ground as planes are landing or taking
off,” he says.
On the other hand, the strip
grading is meant to avoid runway incursion, – any occurrence involving
the incorrect presence of an aircraft on the protected area of a surface
designated for the landing and takeoff of aircraft.
At the airport main building,
construction crews are working on an arrivals terminal meant to increase
passenger area space, to avoid long queues and comply with
internationally accepted standards.
Another project seen as critical
is the expansion of parking area for ground support equipment, which
according to Kamana will be eight times larger than the existing area.
Some of the construction which
involves disruption of passenger traffic is being completed weeks, if
not months, ahead of schedule.
Under normal circumstances, due
to high passenger numbers, much of the construction would need to take
place overnight in relatively short windows to minimise the impact on
travelers.
However, with far fewer guests, the work is taking place during the day and crews are able to work for longer periods of time.
Increased capacity
The Covid-19 pandemic, which has
taken a heavy toll on air transport services, has allowed the
government to embark on expansion of major areas of the airport to
increase its capacity.
For the past two months, air
travel, especially commercial passenger services have been on hold as
the country, like the rest of the world, is dealing with the highly
contagious virus.
Kamana highlights that the new
arrivals terminal for domestic passengers can accommodate somewhere
between 100 to 150 or even 200 depending on the traffic, but currently
there is limited domestic traffic.
Works on the existing arrivals
terminal, which was mixed-use, are expected to be completed next month,
and once done, the new facility will be in conformity with International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and regulations.
“The terminal is being upgraded
to expand the arrivals processing area, and reduce queues to comply with
ICAO standards. Previously, a passenger had 0.7 square metre per
passenger but with the upgrade it will be 1.2 square metre,” he told
this publication.
The existing apron was able to
accommodate about 26 aircraft, according to airport officials, but with
the newly added apron, the parking capacity will increase to accommodate
44 aircraft.
Kigali International Airport,
one of the continent’s top recognised airports, has received a boost in
the recent months as Rwanda was preparing to host the Commonwealth Heads
of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2020.
Claver Gatete, the Minister for Infrastructure told The New Times
that expansion works of the airport kicked off in September as part of
the broader efforts to prepare for CHOGM, which was postponed.
The works, whose budget officials did not disclose, are being jointly funded by RAC and the government.
He said it was generally important to invest in increasing the airport given the growing demand for aviation services.
“We have to expand and have this
airport working because of the increasing number of passengers. It’s
not just the passengers but also the cargo services,” he noted.
RAC says that over $30 million
was invested in the upgrade of the airport during 2014 and 2017,
allowing it to have a new apron, three taxiways, a hangar and an
upcoming upgrade of airfield lighting.
Recent maintenance and upgrade
activities were meant to reduce congestion at the check in and arrival
areas, expand the departure lounge area, increase VIP comfort, and
enhance baggage handling efficiency.
New airport
Last year, Kigali International
Airport processed at least 1.2 million arrivals, according to the
minister, and that the idea is to direct financial resources towards
building aviation.
“We have chosen to develop
aviation as part of developing our economy, and with that, we are
continuing with Bugesera Airport which is going to be a bigger airport,”
he noted.
Qatar Airways has made a
substantial investment in airport infrastructure through Bugesera
International Airport that is being built in Bugesera District.
In December last year, in the
presence of President Paul Kagame and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin
Hamad Al Thani, Qatar and Rwanda signed three agreements that saw the
two parties set up a joint venture to build, own, and operate the
airport.
The investment by the Qatari
Government in the airport in Bugesera is expected to ultimately handle
14 million passengers annually, double Kigali International Airport’s
current capacity.
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