2015-03-18Staff Report 2 WINDHOEK - The Namibia Airports Company (NAC), Aurecon Namibia and China State Construction Engineering Corporation signed the runway rehabilitation agreement for the Ondangwa runway last Friday. Work commenced on Monday and will cost the NAC N$208 million. At the signing ceremony the acting chief executive officer of NAC, Tamar El-Kallawi, thanked all parties for their dedication thus far and wished them well with the project. “Completion of the job is envisaged for July 2016. It will mean that the Ondangwa airport runway will be upgraded from category 3 C to category 4 C and this in turn means that bigger aircraft such as the Airbus A319 will be able to land there. The runway will be widened to 45 metres and 2.8 kilometres in length.This is a great step for us,” said El-Kallawi. He added that the second priority area of the NAC’s strategic plan focusses on rehabilitation and upgrading of airport infrastructure and this in turn would lead to achievement of the NAC’s long-term objective of positioning Namibia as a key aviation connection hub. “In order to do this we are strategically positioning ourselves by upgrading our airport infrastructure to meet this need. This will also create much needed employment,” said El-Kallawi. The refurbished runway will greatly complement the new Ondangwa airport terminal.The new terminal which allows for more commercial activity at the airport was designed to allow for more local participation through private public partnerships. Fuel facilities have been refurbished also to be able to serve other African airliners. 2015-03-18Staff Report 2
