THE Namibian Airports Company on Friday revealed plans for the upgrading of the Ondangwa Airport at a cost of N$60 million.
Officiating at the groundbreaking ceremony at the Ondangwa Airport, Deputy Permanent Secretary Balbina Pienaar, speaking on behalf of Minister of Works and Transport Erkki Nghimtina, said the new terminal building will have a VIP lounge, offices, customs and immigration and police facilities at both departure and arrivals to create an international airport.It will also host commercial facilities such as kiosks, restaurants, car rental outlets and a car park.According to Nghimtina the project was first conceived when Air Namibia introduced three weekly flights to Ondangwa but was later reviewed and new designs were called for to accommodate the increase in passenger volumes, as Ondangwa is the largest and busiest airport in northern Namibia.Nghimtina said it was logical to upgrade Ondangwa Airport to meet international security and other aviation standards. The project will also include the surfacing of the access road and the upgrading of the security fence, already underway. The main runway will be fully rehabilitated, as well as the taxiway and the apron.Nghimtina said the terminal will bring more business to the airport and to the airlines too, as the Ondangwa airport is expected to become the northern gateway for passengers from new routes such as Harare, Lusaka, Gaborone and Ondjiva.
