Nacala International Airport continues to have little traffic

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Nacala International Airport continues to have little traffic

12:30 CAT | 03 Dec 2018

Nacala International Airport will continue to operate without significant traffic for the foreseeable future, and Airports of Mozambique acknowledges that it bears the considerable financial burden of maintenance in addition to servicing the debt of just over US$200 million for its construction.

Airports of Mozambique was one of the partners in the first Nacala Special Economic Zone international investment conference on November 28 to 30, and used its conference room at the airport to welcome the approximately 300 participants.

“Since it opened in 2014, Nacala Airport has failed to realise what was expected of its materialisation. There should be an airline based here in Nacala,” chairman of Airports of Mozambique Emanuel Chaves said.

Contrary to rumours, Ethiopian Airlines will not base its operations in Nacala and, once again, the forecasts of those who planned the giant project have proved elusive.

The airport presently receives LAM flights only twice a week, as well as being used by some private aircraft. It fails to make money, and has a debt of more than US$200 million to pay.

While waiting for the day that never arrives, its ample facilities are used for other activities. Participants of the investment conference for example had lunch there, spaciously accommodated and untroubled by the noise of airplanes.

By Ricardo Machava

Source: O País