PRESS RELEASE - 2018 QUARTER 1 RESULTS
With 413,961 general passenger movements, Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL) recorded a positive growth for the first quarter of 2018; Passenger numbers increased by 12.4% when compared to the same period last year.
International passenger movements grew by 8.4% from 320,185 passengers in the first quarter of 2017 to 347,232 passengers in the first quarter of 2018.
66,729 domestic passengers passed through the airports in comparison to 48,198 in the first quarter of 2017 resulting in an increase of 38.4 per cent. Similarly International passenger movements grew by 8.4% from 320,185 passengers in the first quarter of 2017 to 347,232 passengers in first quarter of 2018.
Some notable factors that led to the positive performance were as follows:
- Increased capacity on Lusaka – Johannesburg route.
- Rwanda solidified performance following the introduction of flights on the Lusaka – Johannesburg route.
- Increased capacity on Lusaka – Harare Route.
- Increased meetings Incentives Conferences and Events (MICE)
- A stable Zambian currency stimulated cross border trade activities thereby stimulating passenger movements.
- Increased frequencies by Mahogany
- Reduced fares by both Proflight and Mahogany Air stimulated traffic
- Introduction of Ndola – Kasama flights by Proflight.
Paying Passenger Movements
Paying passengers are all departing passengers from the four designated airports at Kenneth Kaunda, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Mfuwe International Airports. The total paying passenger traffic during the quarter under review was 135,096 against a budget of 129,185 representing about 4.6% above budget performance. Similarly, this was a positive growth of about 11% when compared to the first quarter of 2017 when 121,684 paying passengers were recorded.
At individual airport level, Kenneth Kaunda International Airport continued to be dominant with 91,193 paying passengers having been recorded during the period under review. This was 4.6% above budget of 87,209 paying passengers. Similarly, this was a positive growth of about 11% when compared to the same period in 2017 when 82,386 paying passengers were recorded.
The performance at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Mfuwe International Airports was positive against the budget performing at 20.8% and 2.3% respectively and the two airports also recorded positive growths of 31% and 7% respectively when compared to the same period in 2017.
Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport recorded a negative performance of –(11) % below budget and a decline in growth of about (6) % when compared to the same period in 2017 when 19,349 paying passengers were recorded.
In comparison to the same period last year, Kenneth Kaunda, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Mfuwe International Airports all recorded positive growths at 11%, 31% and 7% respectively while Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport recorded a decline in growth of (6) %.
Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport declined by (2.6)% in terms of passenger movements in the first quarter of 2018 when compared with the same period in 2017. Mfuwe International Airport grew positively against the same period last year at 23.1%, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Kenneth Kaunda International Airports recorded positive growths of 27.8% and 12% respectively.
Kenneth Kaunda International Airport had the largest number of passengers. The airport handled 71% of total general passenger movements in the First quarter of 2018. Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airports handled 12% and 17% of total passengers respectively.
The smallest airport, Mfuwe International Airport carried 1% of the total traffic.
Aircraft Movement
During the first quarter of 2018, a total of 10,833 aircraft movements were recorded in the four designated airports namely Kenneth Kaunda, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Mfuwe International Airports. When compared to the same period in 2017 which had 10,163 aircraft movements, there was a positive growth of 6.6%.
Domestic aircraft movements increased by 15.2% from 4,499 aircraft movements in the first quarter of 2017 to 5,184 aircraft movements in the first quarter of 2018. This was in line with the growth experienced in passenger movements. Additionally, international aircraft movements declined by (0.3)% from 5,664 aircraft movements in the first quarter of 2017 to 5,649 aircraft movements in first quarter 2018.
When the aggregate growth for both domestic and international aircraft movements are combined, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula, Kenneth Kaunda and Mfuwe International Airports grew by 10.2%, 9%, 5.1 and 4.4% respectively in the first quarter of 2018, when compared with the same period last year.
Kenneth Kaunda International Airport had the most number of flights during first quarter, 2018 with 64%, followed by Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport with 21% of the total flights handled by Zambia Airports Corporation Limited. Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Mfuwe international airports had aircraft movement market share of 13% and 2% respectively.
Cargo Movement
When compared to the same period last year, Cargo movement increased by 22.3% in the first quarter of 2018.
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 three Strategic and seven provincial aerodromes 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