JAN - FEB 2018 LUA 11is being built for a successful economic
future. Its large capacity is a confident
statement of intent,” said AfDB president,
Akinwumi Adesina during a recent
tour of the project in Accra. “This will
help the economy and society of Ghana
considerably through enhanced regional
integration and employment,” Adesina
added. The project is scheduled to be ready
by April 2018.
Designed for international traffic, the
new terminal will comprise five levels
spread across an area of 45,000 square
metre. The terminal will feature six contact
stands for Code E aircraft (Aircraft Gate
Size Category) and two additional remote
stands and will have capacity to process
1,250 passengers at peak hour, a large
retail and commercial area, three business
lounges, six fixed links and seven air
bridges expandable to eight, and parking
space with capacity to handle more than
700 cars.
The KIA currently serves 33 scheduled
airlines. Major international carriers
such as KLM, British Airways, Turkish
Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Virgin Atlantic
and Tap Portugal fly to the airport, in
addition to leading African airlines such
as Arik Air, Ethiopian, Kenyan Airways,
Egypt Air, South African Airways and
Royal Air Maroc.
The international airport, coupled with
four other domestic airports have emerged
as a crucial driving force behind the socio-
economic development of the country,
especially in wake of the discovery of
petroleum and gas reserves in the country,
sustained domestic demand, and increase
in the tourism sector. Also, considered as
an important agricultural export market
for the US and Europe, Ghana offers
expanding market opportunities due to its
remarkable record of economic growth as
well as its liberal import policies. The West
African country continues to maintain
strong trade link with Europe which has 35
percent share of the Ghana market. Other
major competitors for the Ghana market
are Asia and South Africa. In recent years,
imports from Asia especially China and
India have grown rapidly. Additionally,
Chinese investment in all sectors of the
economy has also grown significantly.
Air cargo carriers say they transport
The on time
cargo handling
has smoothen
our operations
in such a way
that we often
do interline by
bringing cargo
from various
countries of the
region to connect
on AFKL ex
Kotoka and vice
versa.
mAnUEl WEIll
AFklmp CARgOa range of export commodities like oil &
gas equipment and crude oil; foodstuffs
including perishables and processed
food; cut flowers; diplomatic pouches and
mails; handicraft; household and pets to
various destinations from the country.
Import items include oil & gas equipment
and crude oil; perishables and processed
food; post office mails; flowers and fruits;
diplomatic pouches and mails; machinery;
spare parts including aircraft parts; mine
drilling equipment; electronics; appliances;
furniture; vehicles; clothing etc.
In its bid to further boost trade and
present Accra as a major air cargo hub, a
multi-million dollar cargo facility has also
been opened at the airport to facilitate
cargo shipments. The Ghana Airport
Cargo Centre (GACC) is a 17,000 square
metre of dedicated cargo warehousingfacility, funded by a public private
partnership (PPP), and is already handling
50 percent of the local air cargo market,
having contracts with carriers such as
KLM, Cargolux, Brussels Airlines, DHL
and Turkish Airlines.
A joint venture between Air Ghana and
the Ghana Airports Company, the facility
combines 8,000 square metres of dedicated
warehouse with 9,000 square metres of
office space, and is managed by Swissport
Ghana and the GACC.
The facility aims to increase cargo
handling capacity at the airport from 50,
tonnes a year to more than 70,000 tonnes
annually. Talking about the facility’s positive
impact on AFKLMP Cargo, Manuel Weill –
VP area Africa Caribbean Indian Ocean for
the carrier said, “The brand new state-of-the
art cargo complex at Kotoka International
Airport (KIA) bears offices, training rooms,
packing space and a warehouse fully
operational since March 2016. AFKL has
joined the facility in September 2016. The
on time cargo handling has smoothen our
operations in such a way that we often do
interline by bringing cargo from various
countries of the region to connect on
AFKL ex Kotoka and vice versa. We have
also operated for a very first time a full
AF B777Freighter on 19th September
(2017) where we have loaded over 106
tonnes of fresh yams at once via CDG
into the USA,” he added.
Weill adds that the facility is equipped
with the latest warehouse cargo handling
equipments including X-ray scanners
and a high level of security control, a
24/7 CCTV monitoring system, a fully
automated storage and retrieval system
accommodating 2,000 pallet positions,
a mini-shipment tower with 5 tonnes
capacity for all small packages, two cold
stores with projections to build up a 3rd
one, a temperature controlled area, a
bullion store (strong Vault), DG packing
area and numerous scales at city side and
inside warehouse.
Thanks to KIA’s increasing profile, the
airport has also been adjudged winner of
the Airports Council International (ACI)
Safety Awards - Best Improvement in
Safety at the ACI World Conference and
Annual General Meeting held in Mauritius
in October, 2017.