Luanda – The certification process of the New Luanda International Airport (NAIL) begins next June to allow its operation, at the end of 2023, with the reception of planes from different airlines intending to fly into Angola.
The information was provided by the Minister of Transport, Ricardo D`Abreu, during the Angolan President of the Republic´s visit, last Saturday, to the works of that infrastructure, located in the commune of Bom Jesus, in the municipality of Icolo e Bengo.
On the occasion of the visit, the Holder of the Executive Power held a meeting, behind closed doors, with members of the management of the contractor Aviation Industry Corporation of China, from which he received information on the good progress of the works.
According to Ricardo D`Abreu, “the certification process will have the go through and support of ICAO, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the seal will allow Angola to place the NAIL on the prominent route of international flights.
He added that, with the start of the certification process, "the first test flight" will also take place in June this year, to guarantee the final acceptance of the project.
However, minister Abreu did not specify the type of plane that will open the runway of the New Luanda Airport, but stressed that the most important thing will be to start the certification process, in the standards required by international aeronautical safety.
Ricardo D`Abreu also announced to the press that the certification process of Catumbela International Airport, in the province of Benguela, is already underway, and should be completed anytime this year.
In the budget for the NAIL, the minister said that the limit for the conclusion of project prepared by the Government in 2018, goes around US$1.4billion.
“So far, the level of financial execution is around 40% of the value, as we need to continue the financial execution, so that the pace of physical execution does not stop”, he mentioned.
Ricardo D`Abreu assured that, with the entry into operation of the NAIL, the current international airport “4 de Fevereiro” won´t be shut down, as it will serve for reception of executive and charter flights.
Regarding to the forms of accessibility and/or transport, he referred to the surface metro, trains and road vehicles, which are currently being implemented.
