Malawi’s Chileka Airport to wear new face in February, 2013 -Mia
The long awaited Chileka International Airport in the country’s commercial city of Blantyre will wear a new face in February next year.
Minister of transport and public works, Sidik Mia said the Ministry is working tirelessly to ensure that renovations at the international airport are completed in two months time from now.
“We are working very hard to ensure that all the work is done because our focus is to see the long awaited Chileka International Airport wearing a new face by February, next year,” said Mia.
He further said that the work is almost done and that the contractors will soon venture into the designing phase which he described as the final stage towards the completion of the airport.
“Nearly much of the work has been completed like roofing, tiling, glazing and installation of lifts and we are only remaining with designing among others and we have also done away with the payment to our contractors,” assured Mia.
According to Mia, it is the government’s wish to see Chileka International Airport meeting the international standards of the 21st century which will allow it to host many aeroplanes and provide international facilities.
“We want to have an international airport like that of Ethiopia which has attained international standards of the 21st century,” said the Minister.
The renovation project has so far cost the Malawi government almost half a billion kwacha (MK410, 069, 499) and it is likely that the figures may go up due to devaluation according to Civil Aviation Department Chief Aerodrome Officer, Oxford Mutambo.
As opposed to Kamuzu International Airport (KIA), Chileka international Airport has been lacking international standard facilities which has forced some aircrafts heading for Blantyre to land at KIA a development that has inconvenienced some passengers.
