ADL says Malawi airports reforms on course

The country’s airports are set to undergo tremendous changes thanks to the reforms that started last year and are making positive headway a year down the line.

Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Developments Limited (ADL) Rodrick Chattaika says they have so far attained half the milestones they were set to achieve under the on-going government reform program launched last year.

“We have attained 4 out of 6 milestones since last year. The first reform areas were focusing on consolidating our revenue base for organic growth. I am proud that the reforms have worked wonders,” said Chattaika.

He cited the improvements on the soon to be launched Likoma Island International Airport in the north as one sterling example.

Chattaika said the airport improvement project was given a boost by revenues generated from the successfully implemented revenue areas.

“Since we automated our car parks, we have witnessed an increase in revenue generated by over 50%. This has given us a solid foundation to expedite the process of giving facelift to the country’s airports,” said Chattaika.

He said for example, while the ADL used to secure about MK 2.3 million per month using manual collection, the entity now collects between about MK 5.6 million to MK 7 million in a month.

Chattaika has described the reforms as being effective in revenue generation and efficient customer service delivery.

“Queuing times for passengers have also been reduced since the launch of the Common User Terminal Equipment (CUTE) system which is used by all airlines,” he observed.

He added that since the introduction of the initiative, stakeholders have reported great improvements.

“The system has eliminated room for human error. The Lilongwe Handling Company (LIHACO) reports a sharp decline of misplaced luggage and misguided passengers. This is what we expected upon the launch of the reforms,” he said.

He has since hinted that under the on-going reforms, government wants to re-activate the rather dormant airports in the north in order to improve the country’s air transport routes.

Under the reforms launched by the Peter Mutharika administration and being coordinated by his deputy Saulos Chilima, the ADL is expected to undergo transformation from being a manager of the Kamuzu International Airport to become the country’s Airports Authority – owning, managing and operating all major airports in the country.

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