PRESS RELEASE - 2016 YEAR END RESULTS
Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL) recorded a positive overall growth for the year 2016. The Airports saw passenger numbers increase by 2.3 per cent when compared with the same period last year.
The general passenger movement for Kenneth Kaunda, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Mfuwe International Airports was 1,622,263. The domestic passenger movements were 274,344 while international passenger movements were 1,347,919. A positive growth of 4.4% was recorded in international passenger movements while domestic passenger movements recorded a negative growth of (7.2%).
The Corporation also recorded a positive growth during the fourth quarter of 2016. The Airports saw passenger numbers increase by 4.1 per cent when compared with the same period in 2015.
Records indicate that during the last quarter of the year, a total of 413,200 passengers passed through the four main international airports namely Kenneth Kaunda, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Mfuwe. During the same period last year, 397,105 passengers used the airports meaning that in 2016 there was a growth of over 16,000 passengers.
Records for the fourth quarter of 2016 show that international passenger numbers increased by 3.7 per cent from 333,535 in 2015 to 345,846 in 2016, while domestic passenger numbers grew by 6 per cent when compared to 2015 results during the same period. There were 63,570 passengers in the fourth quarter of 2015 which increased to 67,354 passengers in fourth quarter 2016.
Unfortunately, ZACL saw a decline in cargo movement when compared to the same period last year as numbers decreased by 10.3 per cent.
Overall, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport recorded the highest positive performance of all the international airports with a market share of 28.6 per cent. This can be attributable to the Nairobi-Livingstone-Cape Town route by Kenya Airways which is
performing very well. Likewise, Mfuwe and Kenneth Kaunda International Airports recorded positive growths in passenger movements of 9.7% and 2.2% respectively due to a general improvement in the number of travellers. On the other hand, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport decreased by 5.4% partly due to a drop of expatriates working in the mines.
Kenneth Kaunda International Airport as the largest gateway in the country carried 71 per cent of total general passenger movements in the fourth quarter of 2016 while Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airports performed joint second with each carrying 14% of total passengers. The smallest airport, Mfuwe International Airport carried 2% of the total traffic.
The ongoing construction of the upgrade of Kenneth Kaunda International Airport is progressing well with the structure of Terminal 2 taking shape. The new Fire and Rescue Service Stations will be complete in 2017 while the new Water Reservoir and Pump House are also advancing well. The overall developmental works at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport will conclude in 2019.
Zambia Airports Corporation Limited is confident that the various developmental projects including the newly commissioned Terminal 2 at Harry Mwaanga Nkumula International Airport in Livingstone, the construction in Lusaka and planned upgrades in Ndola and Mfuwe will greatly improve facilitation for both passengers and airlines as well as enrich the customer experience while cementing Zambia’s place as the next regional hub.
About Zambia Airports Corporation Limited
Zambia Airports Corporation Limited was established in 1989 through the amendment of the Aviation Act, Chapter 444 of the Laws of Zambia and incorporated under the Companies Act Chapter 388. All property, rights, liabilities and obligations of the Government relating to the four designated airports were transferred to the Company.
The Corporation’s mandate is to develop, maintain and manage the four designated international airports, namely Kenneth Kaunda in Lusaka, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe in Ndola, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula in Livingstone and Mfuwe.
For further information contact:
Mweembe Sikaulu (Ms)
Communications and Brand Manager
mweembe.sikaulu@lun.aero; cell: +260964 629463/ +260 977 211053