Hosea Kutako International Airport

Hosea Kutako International Airport
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Namibia Airports Company Limited
Serves Windhoek, Namibia
Hub for Air Namibia
Elevation AMSL 5,640 ft / 1,719 m
Coordinates 22°29′12″S 017°27′45″E / 22.48667°S 17.46250°E / -22.48667; 17.46250Coordinates: 22°29′12″S 017°27′45″E / 22.48667°S 17.46250°E / -22.48667; 17.46250
Website airports.com.na
Map
WDH
Location within Namibia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
08/26 4,532 14,869 Asphalt
16/34 1,524 5,000 Asphalt
Statistics (2016)
Passengers Increase1,574,148
Reference:[1]

Hosea Kutako International Airport (IATA: WDH, ICAO: FYWH) is the main international airport of Namibia, serving the capital city Windhoek. Located well east of the city, 45 km (28 mi), it is Namibia's largest airport with international connections. The name of the airport comes from Namibian national hero Hosea Kutako.

History

The airport was opened in 1965 during the era of South African administration, and was then named J.G. Strijdom Airport, after the Nationalist Prime Minister of South Africa.[2] It was renamed Hosea Kutako International Airport following independence in 1990.[3]

Hosea Kutako International Airport is the main hub for Air Namibia. Until recently, the absence of limited, direct international flights to Windhoek has forced passengers to fly via Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, or Cape Town International Airport, resulting in additional transit visa costs, visa processing time taken by respective embassies and longer travel time.[4] There are around 40[5][6][7][8] direct flights weekly between Hosea Kutako International Airport and OR Tambo International Airport. Condor Airlines introduced flights between Frankfurt and Windhoek since November 2014.[9] Since 2016, Qatar Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines have started flying to Windhoek. Eurowings, the low-cost subsidiary of Lufthansa, commenced a bi-weekly service from Cologne/Bonn in July 2017. However, in a bid to streamline its Southern African routes, the airline has decided to cut the Cologne/Bonn to Windhoek operation.[10] As from May 2018, Eurowings commenced a seasonal service from its Munich hub to Windhoek.[11] In July 2017, Airlink has applied for 5th freedom rights to operate flights between Johannesburg and St. Helena with a stopover in Windhoek.[12] As of October 2017, around 315 flights depart and land at HKIA weekly.[13] In August 2017 Air Namibia was granted 5th freedom rights to operate cargo and traffic between Windhoek, Lagos, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana.[14] Westair Aviation has commenced scheduled flights April 1, 2018 from Windhoek-Eros.[15] In March 2018, Ethiopian Airlines introduced Africa's first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to Namibia.[16][17] Budget affiliation for Air Asia, Air Asia X, is considering various long haul destinations to commence 2019, including Namibia, on board Airbus A330neo aircraft.[18]

Hosea Kutako International Airport apron, August 2017

In December 2017 Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA), Namibia's flagship airport, hosted officials from the Airport Council International (ACI) APEX partners from the Dublin Airport Authority, Airports Company South Africa, Office National Des Aeroports of Morocco, Ghana Airports Company and Airports of Mauritius Company, aiming to establish commitment and ultimately confirm a declaration of ACI APEX Safety Peer-review Programme with the Namibia Airports Company (NAC).[19]

On 10 January 2018 the Namibian Civil Aviation Authority launched the implementation of Africa's first centralised aeronautical database. This technology (Africa-Aeronautical Database or A-CAD), will allow flight planners the option of operating at the press of a button by using various mobile devices and follows the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).[20]

The airport handled 1,574,148 passengers in 2016.[1][21]

Although Hosea Kutako International Airport is the main airport for international flights to and from Namibia, few domestic flights originate at Hosea Kutako Airport as those are predominantly handled at the smaller Windhoek Eros Airport, about 4,7 km (2,92 mi) south of Windhoek's central business district.[22]

Facilities

Check-in area

Though there are few services available near the field, the Sungate Namibia Business Park is being constructed just outside the airport, which will include car rental facilities, airline catering, a truck stop and bureau de change.[23] Improvements to the terminal building have been the recently refurbished duty free restaurant, TAX refund facilities and public (short and long term)[24] parking area.[25] In February 2014, Namibia Airports Company acquired 11 Merce Rhino fire vehicles, of which 2 are assigned to Hosea Kutako Airport, (a Category 9 airport).[24] This accruement exceed the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) safety standards.[26] Free WiFi is available at the duty free restaurant.[27][28]

The 214sqm "Amushe"-business lounge was opened in September 2016, comfortably accommodating 55 passengers at a time.[29]

Ground transportation

The airport has shuttle services into Windhoek.[30]

Expansion

Merce Rhino Fire Engine, Hosea Kutako International Airport

The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) is in the planning stages of constructing a new airport complete with aerodrome classification of category 4F (of the International Aviation Organization (ICAO) Aerodrome Reference Code in terms of Annex 14 of ICAO). This new development would render the airport to accommodate multiple wide-bodied code F aircraft. This project would require a new runway, including taxiways/ aprons. The NAC envisages a newly constructed terminal building that would include separate VIP check-in/ ancillary facilities. A new traffic control tower and fire station would complete the project.[31] In November 2017, the Namibian Government and the Vice Minister of China, Qian Keming, signed an economic and technical cooperation agreement, which will see China offer around 30 million U.S. dollars for part of the N$900m/78 km dual carriageway between the airport and Windhoek.[32][33]In May 2018 a spokesperson for Namibia Airports Company announced that the arrivals- and check-in hall, the luggage handling area, the security screening point will be temporarily improved. With airport traffic increasing, the need for a new terminal, runway and apron has been prioritized.[34] In August 2018 the Namibian Government began funding proposals by the Chinese Government for the construction of a newly planned airport terminal at the Hosea Kutako International Airport.[35]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Air Namibia Accraa, Cape Town, Durbanb, Frankfurt, Gaboroneb, Harare (suspended),[36] Johannesburg–OR Tambo, Lagosa, Livingstone (begins 6 October 2018, ends 27 October 2018)[37], Lüderitz, Oranjemund, Walvis Bay, Luanda, Lusaka, Victoria Falls (suspended)[38]
Airlink Cape Town, Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo, Saint Helenac
British Airways
operated by Comair 		Johannesburg-OR Tambo
Condor Frankfurt
Ethiopian Airlines Addis Ababa
Eurowings Seasonal: Cologne/Bonn (ends 27 October 2018),[39] Munich
KLM Amsterdamd
Qatar Airways Doha
South African Airways Cape Town, Johannesburg–O.R. Tambo
TAAG Angola Airlines Luanda, Lubango
Westair Aviation Windhoek-Eros
Notes
  • ^a Air Namibia have been granted 5th freedom rights and will service traffic between Accra and Lagos.[14]
  • ^b Air Namibia have been granted 5th freedom rights and will service traffic between Gaborone and Durban.[40]
  • ^c Airlink have not yet been granted 5th freedom rights and will service traffic between Johannesburg and Saint Helena[41] Condition depending refuel stop in Windhoek but no passenger exchange.
  • ^d Flights to and from Windhoek have a stopover in Luanda. However, KLM does not carry local traffic rights between Luanda and Windhoek.

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Airlink Cargo Johannesburg-OR Tambo[42]
BidAir Cargo Johannesburg-OR Tambo
Qatar Airways Cargo Doha[43]
South African Airways Cargo Cape Town,[44] Johannesburg-OR Tambo[45]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Tourist Statistical Report" (PDF). Republic of Namibia, Ministry of Environment and Tourism. 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  2. ↑ Standard encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Volume 10, NASOU, 1974, page 202
  3. ↑ Posters in Action: Visuality in the Making of an African Nation, Giorgio Miescher, Lorena Rizzo, Jeremy Silvester Basler Afrika Bibliographien, 2009, page 133
  4. ↑ "UAE investors want direct flights to Namibia". The Namibian. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  5. ↑ "Real Time Flight Status at Windhoek (WDH Airport)". FlightStats.com. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  6. ↑ "Air Namibia Time Table" (PDF). Air Namibia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 April 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  7. ↑ "Emirates Introduces Airbus to Southern Africa". All Africa News. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  8. ↑ "Ethiopian Airlines and SAA expands codeshare partnership for Windhoek". An Africa Business Community – Africa Travel – Tourism. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  9. ↑ "Condor launches Frankfurt-Windhoek flights".
  10. ↑ 2018, UBM (UK) Ltd. "Eurowings outlines new S18 long-haul routes". Routesonline. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  11. ↑ "Eurowings names Munich as second long-haul base". atwonline.com. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  12. ↑ Helena, St. "Sa Airlink To Provide Scheduled Air Services To St Helena And Ascension Island « St Helena". Sainthelena.gov.sh. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  13. ↑ "South African Airways SA 8131 Flight Tracker". FlightGlobalaccessdate=12 October 2017.
  14. 1 2 "Lagos, Accra on Air Nam radar - Local News". Namibian Sun. 2017-08-23. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  15. ↑ 2018, UBM (UK) Ltd. "Airlineroute :: Routesonline". www.routesonline.com. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  16. ↑ Flightradar24. "Flightradar24.com - Live flight tracker!". Flightradar24. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  17. ↑ "Press Release Details - Ethiopian Airlines". www.ethiopianairlines.com. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  18. ↑ "Asia budget carriers spend big at air show for long-haul routes". Nikkei Asian Review. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  19. ↑ New Era Staff Reporter. "Namibia Airports Company prepares for 2018 security audit | New Era Newspaper Namibia". Newera.com.na. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  20. ↑ "No more manual flight plan filing". The Namibian. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  21. ↑ "Namibia may see traffic boost from remake of cult TV series 'The Prisoner'; non-stop flights to Germany, but no longer UK". anna.aero Airline News & Analysis. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  22. ↑ "Distance Between Windhoek Windhoek Namibia and Eros Airport (ERS) Namibia". disween.com. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  23. ↑ "Sungate Namibia - Hangula Estates". hangula.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  24. 1 2 www.omalaetiit.com, Omalaeti Technologies, Namibia,. "Namibia Airports Company -". www.airports.com.na. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  25. ↑ "Hosea Kutako International Airport Windhoek". Routesonline. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  26. ↑ "Namibia Airports Company puts safety first". Traveller24. 2015-02-13. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  27. ↑ "Hosea Kutako International Airport — Wifi — App in the Air". Appintheair.mobi. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  28. ↑ "This map reveals Wi-Fi passwords at airports around the world". The Independent. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  29. ↑ "Namibia Launch New Business Lounge". menziesaviation.com. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  30. ↑ "Hosea Kutako Airport Shuttle". Windhoek Airport Shuttle. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  31. ↑ L2B. "Project | New Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek, Namib | L2B". www.l2b.co.za. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  32. ↑ "N$900m road works start despite cash and water crunch". The Namibian. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  33. ↑ 2017-11-16 20:49:05 (2017-11-16). "Chinese funds to boost infrastructure development, wildlife protection in Namibia - Xinhua | English.news.cn". News.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  34. ↑ "Namibian international airport to get expanded as traffic volumes soar - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  35. ↑ http://www.nbc.na/news/namibia-china-negotiate-funding-proposals-new-hosea-kutako-international-airport-terminal.18539
  36. ↑ https://www.namibian.com.na/72103/read/AirNam-cancels-flights-to-Zimbabwe
  37. ↑ https://www.namibian.com.na/72103/read/AirNam-cancels-flights-to-Zimbabwe
  38. ↑ https://www.namibian.com.na/72103/read/AirNam-cancels-flights-to-Zimbabwe
  39. ↑ https://www.eurowings.com/en/booking/offers/flights-from/DE/CGN/to/NA/WDH/2018-5.html
  40. ↑ "Suspended West African air route gets new life lease". Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  41. ↑ "Airlink will now be flying to St Helena via Windhoek". Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  42. ↑ http://airlinkcargo.co.za/branches/windhoek/
  43. ↑ "Air Cargo World - The Source for Airfreight & Logistics". www.aircargoworld.com. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  44. ↑ "Historical Flight Status". FlightStats. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  45. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2016.

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