The new international airport in Angola named Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto International Airport (AIAAN) has been officially inaugurated by the Angolan government. The new airport will serve as the country’s main hub for passenger and cargo services and will eventually replace Luanda’s Quatro de Fevereiro Airport (LAD).
The new facility occupies a 19 sq mi (50 sq km) sector and is situated around 40 km east of central Luanda. It is 522 feet (159 meters) above sea level and features two asphalt runways. 12 467 feet (3,800 meters) long and 196 feet (60 meters) wide is the southern runway; 13,779 feet (4,200 meters) long and 196 feet (60 meters) wide is the northern runway.
AIAAN can accommodate 15 million passengers a year, of which 10 million are foreign and 5 million are local. In terms of cargo capacity, it can handle up to 286.6 million pounds (130,000 tonnes) yearly in the first phase and up to 970 million pounds (440,000 tonnes) annually in the expansion phase.
According to Angola’s Minister of Transport, Ricardo Viegas D’Abreu, the airport is a public investment fully funded by the government which is estiamated to have cost more than $3 billion, including the supporting infrastructure. The minister said the funds will be recovered through the concession of the airport’s management, development of the airport city, and engagement of the private sector to unlock the full potential of the new facilities.
There are twelve aircraft finger docks in the 1.7 million square foot (160,000 square meter) passenger terminal complex. Additional amenities including lodgings, workplaces, hangars, and retail stores. In addition to check-in counters and contemporary luggage carousels, the terminal building soon will have lounges and eateries.
Ranking by passenger capacity, AIAAN will be among the biggest airports in Africa. It will act as a vital hub on a regional and global scale to support the continued growth of Angola’s transportation and tourism industries. The new airport will be a major hub for trade as the government works to diversify the economy of the nation, since other industries are developing swiftly.
Its advantageous location facilitates the development of a strong logistics hub to increase both domestic and foreign trade. Angola believes that the growth of other industries can be aided by its aviation industry. It has created a brand-new, cutting-edge hub for civil aviation that will be essential to linking Africa to the rest of the globe and fostering the growth of local economies.
Dr Ricardo Viegas D’Abreu added, “I must emphasize that with this new airport, we intend to create an international civil aviation hub in Luanda, which will play a crucial role in connecting Africa and the other continents. It truly contributes to the development of our region’s economies in a logic of ever greater integration and creation of added value for all.”
“Africa needs to be linked to Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Why? Because passengers increasingly need to move and because air transport is increasingly necessary to shorten distances and satisfy the needs of various sectors of the world economy.”
Expanding the center will also help the government’s goal of increasing Angolan tourism. In the upcoming years, AIAAN, as the primary gateway for foreign visitors, is anticipated to present Angola and welcome a significant influx of tourists.
Additionally, it is now much simpler to enter Angola because the country in Southern Africa recently passed a resolution granting foreign nationals from at least 98 nations a 90-day visa-free stay. It is only for tourists and includes, among others, citizens of the US, UK, China, Brazil, and Morocco.