PRESS RELEASE - 2017 QUARTER 4 RESULTS
With 456,821 general passenger movements, Zambia Airports recorded a positive growth for the fourth quarter of 2017; Passenger numbers increased by a staggering 10.9 % when compared to the same quarter in 2016. In this context, general passengers include both arriving and departing passengers, transit passengers, domestic and international passengers.
82,524 domestic passengers passed through the designated airports signifying a substantial growth spurt of 23.1% from 67,028 in 2016. Equally, international passenger movements grew by 8.6% from 344,783 passengers in the Fourth quarter of 2016 to 374,297 passengers in Fourth quarter of 2017.
Some notable factors that led to this performance were as follows:
- Commencement of flights by Mahogany Air which has been steadily growing in passenger numbers and contributed to the double digit growth in the domestic sector.
- Proflight increased frequencies between Lusaka and Ndola from three to four flights on selected days increasing capacity and choice of travel times.
- Proflight continued operating from Ndola to Kasama and Solwezi twice a week
- Increase in Zambia being used as a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) venue.
- A stable currency boosted confidence in the merchandise trading market with China and Dubai.
- There was increased travel during the festive period.
- Stable copper prices on the commodities market. However, the Cholera outbreak in October negatively impacted some travel decisions.
Paying Passenger Movements
In terms of paying passenger movements, ZACL saw a positive performance having recorded a total 161,159 against a budgeted performance of 161,210 representing about 0.03% below budget performance. However, this was a positive growth of about 11% when compared to the same period last year when 145,328 paying passengers were recorded.
At individual airport level, Kenneth Kaunda International Airport continued to be dominant with 105,191 paying passengers having been recorded during the period under review. This was 3.5% below the budgeted performance of 109,044 paying passengers. However, a positive growth of about 6% was achieved when compared to the same quarter of 2016 when 99,398 paying passengers were recorded.
General Passenger Movement Performance by Airport
The performance at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Mfuwe International Airports was positive against the budget performing at 20.2% and 2.5% respectively and also recorded positive growths of 25% and 16% respectively when compared to the same quarter in 2016.
Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport recorded a positive growth of about 20% when compared to the same quarter in 2016 when 22,555 paying passengers were handled. HMNIA continues to show a healthy double digit growth.
The Corporation continues to record double digit growth at HMNIA at 20% while SMKIA also recorded an impressive 25% followed by MIA at 16% and lastly KKIA at 6%. Further SMKIA came from behind with a very strong performance against the budget at 57.7% for domestic while international performance against budget was 3.5%. KKIA, HMNIA and MFW all recorded positives in domestic passenger movement’s performance against the budget at 6%, 25% and 16% respectively.
Aircraft Movement
A total of 13,344 aircraft movements were recorded in the four main airports namely Kenneth Kaunda, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Mfuwe International Airports. When compared to the same period last year which had 12,247 aircraft movements, there was a positive growth of 9% during the period under review.
Cargo Movement
When compared to the same period last year, Cargo movement decreased by 3% in the Fourth quarter of 2017. The decrease is mainly due to increase in agricultural produce trucked through South Africa for onward export into Europe as freight charges in Zambia continue to be relatively higher when compared with other countries in the region.
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 which has been repealed and replaced by the Aviation Act No. 5 of 2016. It is also incorporated under the Companies Act Chapter 388 of the Laws of Zambia.
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 and the provision of Air Navigation services within the Zambian Airspace.
For further information contact:
Mweembe Sikaulu (Ms)
Communications and Brand Manager
mweembe.sikaulu@zacl.aero; cell: +260 964 629463