The new terminal is part of a project for the complete renovation and modernization of the airport, costed at 130 million dollars, which began in 2007. The project also includes a new international terminal (which opened in November 2010), a cargo terminal, a VIP lounge, and a new control tower.
Phase two of the project, including the domestic terminal and the control tower, cost 40 million dollars. Of this sum, 36 million dollars was a grant from the Chinese government, and the remaining four million a loan from a local commercial bank. The contractor for the domestic terminal, as for the international terminal, was the Chinese Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Group (AFECC).
Work on the domestic terminal began in March 2011, with the demolition of the old terminal. This had the inconvenience that for the next 18 months all passengers, for both international and domestic flights, had to check in at the international terminal.
According to the Mozambican Airports Company, the modernization raises the airport’s capacity from 150,000 to five million passengers a year. However, to reach this figure ADM will have to attract more airlines to use the airport.
Guebuza declared that the increased passenger traffic through the airport should have a direct impact on the tourism and hotel industries.
“Facilities of this sort will drive the accelerated development of the mining, real estate, tourism, agricultural and service industries”, he said. “It brings into reality a dream expressed in our Five Year Programme, inspired in our self-esteem”.
ADM chairperson Manuel Veterano noted that the inauguration was taking place in the year Maputo airport celebrates its 50th anniversary. Coinciding with this, Veterano was pleased to announce that Qatar Airways, classified as the best airline in the world, will begin flying to Maputo as from 31 October.
In addition to the shops inside the two terminals, Veterano also envisaged a significant real estate development within the area adjacent to the airport. He said that as from next year space here will be made available for new hotels, office buildings and shopping centres, seeking to make the best use of all the land occupied by the airport.
This would be part of the third phase of modernization which will also include rehabilitation of the runway and taxiways.
Post published in: Africa News