■ MADAGASCAR: Nosy-Be runway extension Phase 1 complete; now A340s and B777s can land.

The first phase of renovation works at Nosy Be's Fascene Airport, a leading tourist destination on the island of Madagascar, has been completed. While it is still subject to regulatory approvals, the airport, in addition to its newly lengthened runway, can now accommodate large aircraft such as the A340 or B777. A second phase of work in the long term should see it capable of handling the A380, authorities claim.

■ NIGERIA: ECOWAS considering setting up an MRO facility in West Africa.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is carrying out feasibility studies for the possible construction of an aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility to serve the region, the organization's Regional Director in charge of Air Transport, Dr. Paul Antoine Marie Ganemtore, has said.

■ CAPE VERDE ISLANDS: ASA to spend €17million in 2013/14 to upgrade country's airports.

Cape Verde’s airport management company, Empresa Nacional de Aeroportos e Segurança Aérea (ASA), says it is planning to spend over EUR17million to spend (CVE1.8billion) on renovating and expanding the country's airport infrastructure in line with the it's vision of providing quality service to the country's growing tourism industry.

■ BOTSWANA: Gaborone SSKIA suffers $53'000 worth of damage to roof in unspecified incident.

Following an unspecified incident which resulted in damage to the roof and its lightning conductor, the Botswana Government, the operators of Gaborone's Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA), have been forced to fork out USD53'000 (BWP430'000) to pay for emergency repair work.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Ekurhuleni to finalize plans for Aerotropolis project at Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport during May.

Following the recently ended Global Airport Cities 2013 conference in South Africa, the city of Ekurhuleni has announced plans to finalize its previously announced 30-year aerotropolis master plan for Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport during the course of May. 

■ KENYA: Siginon Aviation's new $10million cargo facility at Nairobi JKIA on track for September opening.

Siginon Aviation says its planned USD10million new cargo facility at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is on track for a tentative September 2013 launch. The facility will become JKIA's sixth and will add to its current processing capacity of 200'000 tonnes of cargo annually.

■ CONGO (KINSHASA): Lubumbashi Airport to close 3 days a week from May to October as RVA finally upgrades crumbling infrastructure.

Lubumbashi International Airport (also known as Luano International Airport) is to be closed for three days a week between May and October 2013 due to maintenance and upgrading works being done to the airport terminal and runway 07/25.

■ TANZANIA: See Rendering for Dar es Salaam's new $170million Terminal III to be built by BAM International.

The Tanzanian Airport Authority has signed a contract worth USD170million with Dutch construction firm, BAM International, for the construction of a new international terminal (Terminal 3) at Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere International (JNIA).

■ MALAWI: Government planning to build new international airport to replace Blantyre's Chileka.

The Malawian Government has announced plans to construct a new international airport in Blantyre, the country's economic hub, to replace the current Chileka International Airport. The project, amongst others, will form part of the country's ongoing economic recovery plan (ERP).

■ SENEGAL: ADS decries lack of traffic at Tambacounda Airport despite costly upgrades.

Roughly one year on from a USD2million (XFA1billion) upgrade of its various navigation and landing aides, Senegal's Tambacounda Airport still remains underserved and in urgent need of development the agence des Aéroports Du Sénégal (ADS) Tambacounda airport's general manager, Kabe Cissé, has said.

■■ KENYA: (Pics) A look at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport's proposed Terminal 4 currently being built.

 

Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Project Greenfield & Terminal 4

[UPDATE 16 APRIL] Now that all the dust has settled following a protracted court case involving accusations of favoritism and bribery in the awarding of the tender for Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport's (JKIA) new Terminal 4 and future Greenfield Terminal and a second runway expansion planned, construction has finally started, though when the entire project will be completed, is anyone's guess.

■ KENYA: KAA tenders for the construction of a new domestic terminal at Nairobi JKIA.

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has officially issued a tender for the design, construction of the terminal building, supply and installation, testing, commissioning and  handing over of a new Domestic Terminal at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

■■ RWANDA: (Pics) A look at Kigali's proposed New Bugesera International Airport.

New Bugesera International Airport, Kigali, Rwanda

[UPDATE 14 APRIL] After the horrific aftermath of the genocide of 1994, Rwanda's economy has risen from the ashes to become one of Africa's most dynamic and fastest growing, registering at least 8 percent GDP growth in the past 5 years, with 6.9% growth projected for 2013. As part of its Vision 2020, amongst whose aims is to transform the country from a subsistence-farming based economy into a middle-income (>USD900/month) services hub, the Rwandan Government has moved to develop a vibrant private sector by investing in Roads, Rail and water transport infrastructure with the ultimate aim of dramatically reducing the cost of transport to businesses and individuals. Of the several large infrastructure projects proposed, the most economically far reaching is a new airport, Bugesera International Airport, to be built outside of the capital, Kigali.

■ TANZANIA: New and improved Bukoba airport to open next month says TAA.

Bukoba Airport, situated along the southern shores of Lake Victoria, is expected to reopen next month according to the Tanzanian Airports Authority (TAA) following the conclusion of rehabilitation and extension works to the airport's runway 13/31, and rehabilitation of the terminal building.

■ ANGOLA: Renovation and expansion works at Luena Airport to be finished by June.

The rehabilitation and expansion works at Luena Airport in Moxico Province, Angola, are winding down with Angola's airport and air traffic authority Empresa Nacional de Aeroportos e Navegação Aérea (ENANA) giving June as a possible date for the overall completion of the rehabilitated passenger and cargo terminals.

■ ZIMBABWE: Construction of new airside infrastructure at Victoria Falls Airport goes ahead as Bulawayo's nears completion.

Work on the upgrading of airside infrastructure at Victoria Falls International Airport in Zimbabwe has finally gotten under way following a ground-breaking ceremony held in the resort town on Friday, attended by Zimbabwean government dignitaries. The contractor for the USD150million project, to be financed under a China ExIm Bank loan, has been identified as China Jiangsu International Group (CJIG).

■ GHANA: Government okays $100million allocation for construction of a major international airport in Tamale.

The Ghanaian Parliament has greenlighted the allocation of USD100million needed for the construction of a major international airport in Tamale, capital of  the Northern Region. The Ghana Airports Company (GACL), who will ultimately be responsible for the running of the facility once it is open, are still to approve the project's final designs, currently being done by an unnamed Brazilian firm, before construction can begin.

■ ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines in talks with international firms over construction of a 4* hotel in downtown Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is reportedly in fresh talks with unnamed international companies regarding the design, construction, vendor finance and management of a proposed four-star (previously 5 star) hotel it wants to build on 40'000sqm of prime real estate in downtown Addis Ababa on the newly revamped African Avenue.

■ GHANA: Kumasi Airport partially closed again after huge cracks, subsidence appear in runway 20.

Kumasi Airport in Ghana has been closed once more owing to its runway 20 cracking and subsiding. This follows after the airport was closed year in December to allow for repairs to the same runway.

■ TANZANIA: TAA forks out $12'000 for land feasibility study for new Sumbawanga airport.

The Tanzanian Airport Authority (TAA) has allocated more than USD12'000 (TZS20million) for the evaluation of an area at Kisumba Village for the construction of a "modern, spacious airport" to serve Sumbawanga Municipality in Rukwa District, south western Tanzania.