The Aviation Industry Corp. of China's artistic impression of the futuristic airport planned for Ndola

Zambia's third largest city Ndola, headquarters of the country's famed copper-mining region known as the Copperbelt, has long wished for a modern airport. Now the wish is to materialize with a $500-million facility on the drawing board.

The project is being developed by the Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC), a company involved in the production of military aircraft and information and communications technology products as well as construction of commercial airports.

The artistic impressions of the airport developed by AVIC include a terminal, aircraft and other vehicle parking spaces, and a hotel. At the time of writing this, the Zambian Government was looking for over $500 million so that construction could begin on the 2,000-hectare site in a forest reserve west of the city.

Much-needed upgrade

Ndola is currently being serviced by the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport, constructed by the British colonial government in 1938. The airport served as a military base for the British Royal Navy's flying squadrons during World War II when the British secured the territory of Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) from other European interests.

After World War II, the military base was turned into a civilian landing facility. It was known as Ndola Airport until rechristened by the late President Michael Sata.

The original 1938 terminal with its dome-shaped roof is used as a concourse by airlines for bookings and partly as a lounge for domestic passengers. Some ancillary buildings have been added but electronic displays are not yet in use and the Copperbelt's major landing facility is yet to get a major facelift.

Exactly 50 years ago, the airport played a role in airlifting copper to global markets and receiving fuel following the Unilateral Declaration of Independence by the late Ian Smith, then Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). As a result of the declaration, Zambia was blocked from accessing South African ports for its copper exports and fuel from a refinery in Umtali in Southern Rhodesia.

In the early 1970s, the Chinese Government financed and constructed the 1,860-km Tanzania-Zambia Railway extending from Tanzania's port city Dar es Salaam to Kapiri Mponshi in Zambia. The railway was built to provide Zambia with an alternative route for copper exports and imports, especially machinery for mines, given the high costs of air freight.

Tourism opportunity

There is a crying need for a new airport in Ndola, the gateway to the Copperbelt and a technical stopover/refueling point for regional airlines. Ndola is also the gateway to provincial airports: Mansa Airport in Luapula Province, Kasama Airport in Northern Province, and Solwezi Airport in North-Western Province, where copper mining activities have extended from the Copperbelt.

"Due to residential developments around the [Ndola] airport, the 2.5-km runway cannot be extended. The latest wide-bodied aircraft [used] for long-haul operations require about 3-km runways or more and cannot land at our airport," airport manager Joseph Mumbi told ChinAfrica.

He said the largest aircraft that can land are the old Douglas DC-10 and Ethiopian Airlines' MD-11CF used for cargo.

With the Zambia Tourism Board recognizing China as one of the major tourist source countries, the nation needs to tap into long-haul operations involving China. Zimbabwe, which shares the World Heritage Site Victoria Falls with Zambia, has improved airport infrastructure in Victoria Falls Town, with plans for direct flights from China. This is seen as a growth region for international arrivals.

The airport in Ndola needs to be relocated as the current site has no space for a modern terminal and hotel. Like the other international airports - the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone near Victoria Falls, and the Mfuwe International Airport near South Luangwa National Game Park - the Ndola Airport too falls under the Zambia Airports Corp. Ltd. (ZACL).

The ZACL's revenue over the years has been limited to profits from aeronautical services. The new airport plan includes housing units and the airport hotel to diversify its income.

Developing hub

Passenger statistics for the past five years also back the need for a modern airport in Ndola. According to the ZACL's branding and marketing department, the number of passengers using the Ndola Airport was slightly over 100,000 in 2009. It rose to 266,702 in 2014.

The Ndola City Council is in the process of de-gazetting the forest reserve, the new airport site. The area has seen much development lately, including a 40,000-seat stadium. The Levy Mwanawasa Stadium built by Chinese company Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Group is underpinned by Sino-African cooperation: 300 Chinese and 900 Zambians worked together to build the sports facility.

The area will also see a $2-million housing complex comprising 1,700 low, medium and high-cost houses coming up to offset the shortage of residential accommodation. China's Henan Guoji Construction Group and the Ndola City Council signed a memorandum of understanding to form a joint venture that will develop the complex. Roy Kuseka, the council's public relations manager, said in an interview that the local authority will provide the land and Henan Guoji the capital.

(Reporting from Zambia)