Malawi main airport KIA blacklisted: SAA cancels flights to Lilongwe
Kamuzu International Airport (KIA), Malawi’s major international airport, being blacklisted international airlines over aviation safety issues with South African Airways (SAA) cancelling flights on Friday.
SAA advised its customers that its flights to and from Lilongwe Kamuzu International Airport were cancelled due to the change of category status and resultant conditions at the airport “which are currently not compatible with prescribed operational requirements for SAA to continue its scheduled services to and from Lilongwe”.
Spokesperson for SAA Tlali Tlali said in statement made available to Nyasa Times: “We operate within a highly regulated industry and must always ensure compliance with the prescribed requirements set out by the regulating authorities.”
SAA confirmed customers would be able to re-book their flights under certain terms and conditions.
The developments comes after the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has warned that delays to address aviation safety issues could put the country’s airports at risk of being blacklisted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao).
DCA director Alfred Mtilatila warned that the delays to improve safety standards at the country’s main airports have huge implications to the country as a whole.
Mtilatila cited electrical voltage system at KIA which he said has outlived its lifespan
Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe warned in hat Malawi airports risk being blacklisted due to poor safety aviation standards.
In February this year, KIA suffered a security breach after a man, suspected to be mentally ill, managed to board a plane grounded on the runway and spent the whole night in the plane without being detected.
The man forcefully removed the emergency exit door of the plane, a Q400 Bombardier belonging to Malawian Airlines, to make his way into the plane at around 3am and was only detected several hours later by engineers who noticed that the plane’s door had been removed.
Apitalaaaaaaaaa! Kutikwana ndiye NambalaState Wani yendetsani dziko goooooo! Kuba chisankho basi using 577 billion
I feel sorry for my poor Malawi and its leaders. Shameful indeed. Koma kusolora basi ndiye go one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What baffles me is our general sloppiness or low level of energy where we always wait until we are hit in the face ! Money or no money should never be an excuse its just our unwillingness to get things done or only willing to act if there is a cash-gate benefit. Shame on everyone who is associated/contributed to this shameful outcome. unfortunately with no accountability (lack of holding someone accountable) no body will be punished out of this issue. This is a dead country. No wonder we are poor !
MABVUTO SAZATHA AMALAWI. KUDZIKUNDIKILA KWABVUTA
SORRY
THE PROBLEM IS THAT
ALL PEOPLE WORKING
IN OUR AIRPORTS ARE DPP
POLITICIANS NOT PROFESSIONALS
So shameful, coz its just like u’ve 4get ur chap in a bus. If that was ur source of buying expnsiv vehicles are all basic need in life. So how can u forget ur capital by consuming it. Just ask man of God Bushiri as u’ve already ask his on maize problem. Please don’t feel shy to ask for help from him because God send Him to help and spread the Good news.
MIPANDO YONONA MUKUPATSANA ALHOMWE NOKHANOKHA AND YET MUKULEPHERA KUPANGA PERFORM. MUSOVA!!!!
DONT BLAME MCP YOU IDIOTS! WHAT MCP WAS SAYING IS THAT DPP GOVERNMENT SHOULD FIRST ACCOUNT FOR THE LOANS THAT PARLIAMENT HAS BEEN APPROVING TOWARDS REHABILITATION OF THE SAME AIRPORTS. MIND YOU, THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST LOAN BILL TO BE TABLED IN PARLIAMENT.
DPP FAILED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE PREVIOUS LOANS AND QUIETLY WITHDREW THE LOAN AUTHORIZATION BILL IN PARIAMENT. SO WHOSE PROBLEM IS THAT???????????????
KUBA BASI!
Cry my beloved country
The issue of Fire Engines at KIA leaves a lot to be desired. I graduated from School of Aviation as a Fire Officer in 2002 February. By that time we had only one Crash tender working. The rest are just facing the runway but not operational. Please the Aviation Industry is the hub of tourism in a country but our leaders in Malawi are not looking at it as a priority. If you can buy New fire trucks for all the airports things will change for the better. Donors are there who can assist. Even training of Fire Fighters is… Read more »