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Zimbabwe plans to expand capital airport

Xinhua, May 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

Zimbabwe on Monday confirmed plans to expand its capital city's Harare International Airport.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe chief executive, David Chawota, told Xinhua the expansion aimed to increase the handling capacity of the airport to six million passengers per year.

"We do have plans to expand the Harare International Airport for it to become a regional air transport hub by 2020," Chawota said.

Last upgrade to the airport, with a current passenger handling capacity of 2.5 million per year, was completed in 2001.

"We have gone out to look for funds for the project but we have not yet put it to tender," Chawota said.

He did not disclose the projected cost of the expansion project but indicated that the expansion will be done in phases.

Transport Minister, Jorum Gumbo, early this year said the government intended to expand the Harare International Airport to cater for an anticipated increase in tourists.

A new-look Victoria Falls Airport in the country's resort town of Victoria Falls is expected to be put into use soon after the completion of upgrade and expansion work funded by China to the tune of 150 million U.S. dollars.

The work began in 2013 and was carried out by a Chinese company. It has greatly increased the airport's passenger handling capacity to two million from 500,000.

The expansion of Victoria Falls Airport is expected to attract more airlines from around the world to bring more tourists to the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe's prime tourist destination. Endit