In a significant development for Zambia’s aviation sector, the government has announced a major initiative to upgrade all provincial airports across the country.

According to a press statement by the Zambian Government, this ambitious project aims to enhance infrastructure, improve safety standards, and boost connectivity between Zambia’s regions.

The statement adds that the upgrade will involve modernising existing facilities, expanding runway capacities, and installing advanced navigation and security systems. This move is expected to facilitate smoother operations and handle increased passenger and cargo traffic more efficiently.

The government says that its initiative is part of a broader strategy to support economic growth, enhance tourism, and strengthen regional integration by making air travel more accessible and reliable.

By improving provincial airports, the government aims to promote balanced regional development and stimulate local economies.

The project timeline and budget details are yet to be fully disclosed, but authorities assure that the upgrades will be undertaken in phases to minimise disruption and maximize benefits across the country.

However, the government has not released any financial details or the timelines for the projects.

Meanwhile, Zambian Airports Corporation (ZACL) which runs the country’s airports says that that in the second quarter of 2024, the aviation industry continued to demonstrate a strong recovery, with global passengers consistently rising above the levels recorded in the previous year, hinting at higher demand for air travel both internationally and domestically.

It says that in the second quarter, ZACL served 569,658 general passengers across its network of airports, a 15 pc increase from the 494,110 passengers recorded in Q2 2023. International passenger traffic rebounded by 117 pc in terms of pre-Covid-19 recovery and recorded a year-on-year growth of 17 pc when compared to the same period last year. Domestic passengers recovered by 146 pc with all airports surpassing pre-pandemic levels and recorded a year-on-year growth of 11 pc.

The increase in domestic passenger performance is primarily driven by competitive pricing on domestic routes, the opening of the Lusaka-Kasama route and the hosting of various events, it says.