Government set to revamp Karonga International Airport ahead of flight resumption
By Winkly Mwaulambo
The Ministry of Transport and Public Works says it is committed to improving facilities at Karonga International Airport to support the Agriculture, Tourism, and Mining (ATM) strategies, as flights are set to resume in the district this year.
Speaking after inspecting the airport, Deputy Minister of Transport and Public Works, Peter Dimba, said that although the airport has been inactive for over a decade, it is time to restore its role in contributing positively to the country’s economy.
Dimba stated that while flights are yet to resume, there is a need to upgrade other facilities, such as resurfacing the runway, erecting a new perimeter fence, and enhancing the airport’s transmitter to ensure smooth operations.
“Since 2010, scheduled flights have not taken place at this airport. However, the government, through my ministry, is now ready to restart both domestic and international flights, which will help boost the country’s economy by generating forex and positively impacting agriculture, tourism, and mining by making travel more time-efficient,” Dimba said.
He added that some companies have already expressed interest in using the airport with their private planes before scheduled flights resume.
“Lotus Africa Limited, a uranium mining company, has assured the government that it will start using this facility by February this year, which we see as a positive step. However, scheduled flights cannot resume here until the rehabilitation work at Mzuzu International Airport is completed,” Dimba explained.
Commenting on the matter, Captain Frank Madzi, a Safety Officer at Malawi Airlines, emphasized the need to address certain operational requirements to ensure smooth flights, particularly the addition of a fire truck to upgrade the facility to Category 5.
He also stressed the importance of air travel, arguing that it saves time and is less exhausting compared to other modes of transportation.
In a separate interview, Paul Kayange, a businessperson in Karonga, said he is looking forward to the resumption of flights, as they will enable him to connect more easily with customers who need quick deliveries.
He added that he will also be able to travel abroad for a shorter period to purchase goods that his customers demand, thereby boosting his business.
Karonga International Airport has a 1.68-kilometer-long runway, making it capable of accommodating a Boeing 700-type aircraft.
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