COMPLETION of an
international airport at
Nacala in Mozambique’s
Nampula Province is expected
in November.
Sandra Ganâncio of the
Commercial Directorate of
Airports Mozambique, told
TNW that, as yet, it was not
possible to specify when the
airport would receive its first
international services but
domestic flights would start in
November and regional airlines
would commence services in
the first quarter of 2015.
Formerly a military airfield,
the airport is 200km from
the provincial capital of
Nampula, 500km from the
Tanzanian border, 1 800km
from the South African border
and 620km for the eastern
Malawian border. The Nacala
Development Corridor links
Nampula to Malawi and
Zambia by road.
Nacala’s position on the
coast and the existence of
a deep-water port (the thirdlargest
on the east coast of
Africa), made it a strategic hub
for the country’s development
and that of Southern Africa,
said Sandra.
The airport will provide
access to the north of the
country, with its considerable
tourism and business
potential. Sandra said the
discovery of hydrocarbon
reserves and mineral
resources in the location
had attracted international
investors. Resultant economic
projects, along with locations
favourable to tourism, were
driving an increase in visitor
numbers.
The new airport will make
access to sites such as
Ilha de Mozambique, the
Gorongosa National Park and
the Quirimbas Islands more
convenient.
“Nacala’s strategic
tourist products are sun,
sea, sand, ecotourism,
culture and sports, among
others,” said Sandra. “As
an exotic tourist destination,
investment opportunities
and business in the tourism
sector are endless, mostly
in the construction of hotels,
restaurants, water sports,
exploitation of marine parks
and more.”
The airport will have
capacity to handle 500 000
passengers annually and its
3 100m runway will be
capable of receiving Boeing
747-400s. The passenger
terminal will house 16 check-in
counters, 16 passport desks,
four departure and four arrival
gates, two departure and two
arrival lounges
