Passengers traveling through the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), will now have some relief from the congestion and long queues that characterizes activities at the arrival and immigration halls at the airport.<\/p>\n
This follows ongoing works by the Ghana Airports Company limited (GACL), to expand the arrival hall by adding 5,142 square meters to the existing 6,013 square meters floor area.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”jbeUvYrp6c7wUEK3CtiIO95z3A17M68k”]A statement\u00a0from the GACL, said the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2015, includes the installation of two new baggage handling equipment to bring to four the number of baggage handling equipment at the arrival hall.<\/p>\n
Other improvements include the installation of additional immigration booths, new air conditioning systems among others.<\/p>\n
It said as part of the expansion, there will be other electrical, mechanical and plumbing works, adding that, the construction of additional floors would serve as offices for GACL and other stakeholders at the airport.<\/p>\n
The project is being funded from internally generated funds and is being undertaken by contractors; Amandi Holdings Limited.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, efforts are being made to make the existing terminal operationally effective, while washrooms in the terminal building had been refurbished to ensure the comfort of passengers.<\/p>\n
The release said the installation of modern CCTV cameras at every area of the airport was about 90 per cent complete with the aim of providing 24-hour security at every area of the airport.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost importantly, the old escalator at the departure terminal has been replaced with a new one, and the GACL has also taken delivery of a second escalator and two new lifts,\u201d the release said, adding that, the installation process \u201cis on-going\u201d and it\u2019s expected to facilitate movement of passengers from the departure hall to the boarding gates.<\/p>\n
The re-roofing of the entire terminal building at KIA was progressing steadily.<\/p>\n
Other on-going projects at KIA include the redesigning of car parks, reconstruction of taxiway and apron pavements, rehabilitation of the touchdown zone and the construction of 17 apron parking stands for mix fleet aircraft, the release said.<\/p>\n
Touching on the Tamale Airport, it said the development of the Tamale Airport for international operations was in two Phases, and the scope of works of Phase 1, included an upgrade and extension of the runway from 2438m to 3400m, the construction of a new Apron, the rehabilitation of the existing apron and the installation of Aeronautical Ground Lighting system.<\/p>\n
The Tamale Airport is being upgraded to handle international operations including the seasonal Hajj Pilgrimage flights between Ghana and Mecca and on completion of this project, the Tamale Airport would serve as an alternate to the Kotoka International, Airport and would be able to accommodate a Boeing 747-800 series aircraft and other aircraft of similar build, the release said.<\/p>\n
It said the project was expected to be completed by January 2016, adding that, the Tamale airport was currently served by Antrak, Starbow and Africa World Airlines.<\/p>\n
In 2013, GACL embarked on a phased development of the Kumasi Airport to provide the requisite infrastructure for safe domestic and regional operations.<\/p>\n
The statement said \u00a0scope of the first phase included the rehabilitation of the runway and the installation of airfield lights for night operations.<\/p>\n
It said the first phase had since been completed and inaugurated by His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurrently, Master Plan studies for the airport are on-going, and some of the main projects planned in the second phase are expected to include the extension of the runway and the construction of a new terminal building,\u201d the release said, adding that, the Kumasi Airport was served by Antrak, Starbow and Africa World Airlines.<\/p>\n
In line with GACL\u2019s programme to rehabilitate and upgrade all airports, the Sunyani Airport was being rehabilitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cConstruction is on-going to expand the Terminal Building to receive modern x-ray security screening equipment,\u201d said the statement\u00a0adding that, the x-ray screening equipment included an archway metal detector and hold baggage scanner, among others.<\/p>\n
It said other enhancements such as CCTV, paved car park and resurfacing of the runway would also be undertaken this year.<\/p>\n
The Sunyani Airport is served by Antrak Air and some charter flights, the release said.<\/p>\n
Touching on future Projects, the release said the dream of achieving GACL\u2019s vision – \u201cto position Ghana as the Preferred Aviation Gateway and Leader in Airport Business in West Africa\u201d was within reach.<\/p>\n
It said the GACL had earmarked a number of projects to commence soon, and that, plans were far advanced to build a new international terminal (Terminal 3) to reduce the pressure on the existing terminal at KIA.<\/p>\n
The release said the design and build concept was expected to handle up to 5 million passengers per year, adding that, the Ghana Airports Company Limited and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, were working together to make the Wa airstrip in the Upper West region operational for commercial flights this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernment has already initiated action towards the construction of a modern airport at Ho in the Volta Region,\u201d said the release.<\/p>\n
A contract had been awarded for preliminary works, including access and perimeter roads as well as security posts.<\/p>\n
The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) commenced operations in January 2007 with the specific responsibility for planning, developing, managing and maintaining all airports in Ghana, including the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) and the three domestic airports namely Kumasi, Tamale and Sunyani, as well as various airstrips.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Source: GNA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Passengers traveling through the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), will now have some relief from the congestion and long queues that characterizes activities at the arrival and immigration halls at the airport. This follows ongoing works by the Ghana Airports Company limited (GACL), to expand the arrival hall by adding 5,142 square meters to the existing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":116081,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[23,38],"yoast_head":"\n