Kampala, Uganda | URN | The on-going expansion works at Entebbe International Airport will lead to an increase of passenger traffic to 3.5 million annually from the current 1.8 million.
The Deputy Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Fred Bamwesigye said this while monitoring the expansion and upgrade work on Sunday 14th, July 2019.
“We are looking at having up to 3.5 million using the airport by 2021,” Bamwesigye says.
The on-going airport expansion works include erection of a new cargo centre with storage capacity of 100,000 tonnes, way higher than 59,000 tonnes of the former centre, an apron, an upgrade on the runway 12/30 among others.
Bamwesigye further remarked that the cargo centre is currently at 95 per cent level of completion while the aircraft parking apron is at 85 per cent.
“The rehabilitation works for expansion of aircraft parking apron 1, are at 71.9 per cent while the second runway is at 85 per cent completion,” Bamwesigye stated.
Currently, the CAA is working on all airport access roads which he said are at 95 per cent finished plus establishment of a new fuel firm and hydrant system.
Expansion on the airport according to Robert Ssebalamu, a tourism operator in Entebbe municipality will see more tourists flying into the country which would boost the tourism industry further.
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The upgrade and expansion of the airport is a 720 billion shillings project undertaken by several Chinese companies including China Communications Construction Company.
Sylvester Kasirye an Aviation Safety expert says such upgrade will see Entebbe International Airport (EIA) be upgraded to one of the biggest airports in East Africa after Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Kigali and among other airports.
The expansion and upgrade is in line with the amendment of the Civil Aviation Authority Act to empower and grant unrestricted access to the Authority inspectors to inspect aerodromes, air operator premises and aircraft without prior notice, unlike in the previous Act where inspectors had to first seek for permission from air operators and aerodrome operators to visit their premises for routine inspections.
Such amendments according to CAA will help ensure safety and security of the aircraft at the airport.
