Malawi’s national airline (Malawi Airlines) is expected to resume scheduled flights to Mzuzu after a 15-year hiatus.
Malawi’s Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport, Peter Dimba, said that the country’s flag carrier Malawi Airlines will restart scheduled services to Mzuzu in the northern part of the country.
MALAWI AIRLINES MZUZU FLIGHTS
Malawi Airlines’ last commercial flight to Mzuzu was in 2010, with a 42-seater ATR narrowbody aircraft.
The airline, which is partly owned by Ethiopian Airlines, will soon relaunch scheduled services to Mzuzu.
Dimba said he expects commercial flights to resume in late February.
REHABILITATING MZUZU AIRPORT
The move to resume this service is indeed made possible by the Malawi government’s efforts to rehabilitate Mzuzu Airport.
The project, already underway, includes extending the length of the existing runway from 1300 to 1600 meters.
The extension of the runway will allow for bigger aircraft to land in Mzuzu.
Nyasa Times reports that Malawi Airlines’ flights to Mzuzu will be operated with a 72-seater Bombardier aircraft.
Apart from the extended runway, the project will also see the overhauling of the Terminal Building.
Renovation works on the terminal building will see the creation of separate arrivals and departures lounges, the construction of a new air traffic control room and the installation of air traffic control equipment.
The extension and expansion of the Mzuzu Airport runaway was in fact recommended by Malawi Airlines.
The reopening of the airport to commercial flights is also expected to increase tourism to Likoma Island.
MODERNISING TRANSPORT SECTOR
The Malawi government is in the process of modernizing the country’s transport sector.
The government seeks to rehabilitate Mzuzu Airport as well as to restore the Karonga Aerodrome, located in the north of the country.
In fact, the rehabilitation of Mzuzu’s airport is a temporary solution in a move to improve connectivity throughout Malawi.
Construction of a new airport, the Orton Chirwa International Airport, is set to begin after the rainy season.
“Rehabilitation of the Mzuzu airport is not diverting from our dream project of Orton Chirwa International Airport whose background work has been completed and awaits implementation once a final decision on location is made, but rather is intended to bring commercial flights to this city the soonest while the other project is running”, the Minister said.
