Malawi Chileka airport resume flights: Potholes filled

Chileka International Airport in the Malawi commercial capital, Blantyre, which was closed recently because its main runway is littered with potholes, has resumed operations, the Department of Civil Aviation has announced in a statament.

“The ministry is hereby assuring all concerned that following the remedial works on the main runway, the level of safety has been restored to the required standards in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation [ICAO] Annex 14 provisions,” reads the statement in part.

Transport Minister Ulemu Chilapondwa told Nyasa Times that the airport was reopened on Sunday and that all flights will resume as normal in and out of Blatyre-Chileka International Airport.

“We are back on our feet,” said Chilapondwa.

Chilapondwa said two potholes developed on the main runway and the Department of Civil Aviation hired a contractor to fill them.

“The potholes have been filled,” he said.

Malawian Airlines has since announce that their flights resumes using Chileka airport on Tuesday.

“Malawian Airlines is therefore advising its customers that flights to Johannesburg will operate as scheduled from 25th March, 2014,” Maganizo Mazeze, Malawian Airlines spokesman, told Nyasa Times.

However,  Mazeze said the Malawian airline’s daily return early morning and late evening domestic service between Blantyre and Lilongwe resumes on 1st April, 2014 as scheduled.

The domestic service departs Blantyre at 7am for Lilongwe and returns at 6pm to Blantyre.

“This flight service affords those based in Blantyre to work in Lilongwe and return the same day. Lilongwe residents already enjoy daily return flight to Blantyre and our fares are extremely affordable,” he said.

Malawian Airlines suspended its flights to Chileka Airport from March 16 2014 and were only operating from Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe.

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