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.

Kia blacklisted
Kia blacklisted
Passengers board a South African Airways Boeing 737 aircraft at the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe October 25, 2009. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
Passengers board a South African Airways Boeing 737 aircraft at the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe October 25, 2009. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

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.

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Zeleza Mutharika
Zeleza Mutharika
7 years ago

Apitalaaaaaaaaa! Kutikwana ndiye NambalaState Wani yendetsani dziko goooooo! Kuba chisankho basi using 577 billion

Akungolonje
Akungolonje
7 years ago

I feel sorry for my poor Malawi and its leaders. Shameful indeed. Koma kusolora basi ndiye go one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shame on you
Shame on you
7 years ago

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 !

aleluya
aleluya
7 years ago

MABVUTO SAZATHA AMALAWI. KUDZIKUNDIKILA KWABVUTA

SORRY

MABELU
MABELU
7 years ago

THE PROBLEM IS THAT
ALL PEOPLE WORKING
IN OUR AIRPORTS ARE DPP
POLITICIANS NOT PROFESSIONALS

jim
jim
7 years ago

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.

chete
chete
7 years ago

MIPANDO YONONA MUKUPATSANA ALHOMWE NOKHANOKHA AND YET MUKULEPHERA KUPANGA PERFORM. MUSOVA!!!!

chete
chete
7 years ago

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!

Seles
Seles
7 years ago

Cry my beloved country

Modicai Longwe
Modicai Longwe
7 years ago

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 »

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