Africa-Press – Angola. Angolans residing in Portugal expressed, this Friday, in Lisbon, satisfaction with the inauguration of the new Dr António Agostinho Neto International Airport (AIAAN), which will allow a greater flow of national and international flights
Several people interviewed, considered that with the new infrastructure people will have easier mobility between the two countries and not.
Portugal is one of the countries that many Angolans see as a gateway to the world and even as a destination for academic training, work and residence.
Edmundo Kassuende, student, stated that the inauguration of the new Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport will be an added value for the State, as well as for Angolans, as weekly flight frequencies could be increased.
He highlighted the extremely important feat, as it allows the country to obtain more revenue for the State coffers.
Joana José considered it a source of pride for the country to have this airport, because it will help attract more tourists to the country.
“The new International Airport will allow many unemployed young people to get their first job”, he highlighted.
Ana Deolinda Cardoso stated that the infrastructure will allow greater exports of national products and that it will be of great value to the country.
In turn, Sérgio Rosa highlighted that he hasn’t been to Angola for three years and that it was his dream to one day return to the country and land at the new Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport.
Inaugurated this Friday, by President João Lourenço, the new airport, built 40 kilometers from the country’s capital, comes into operation in phases, with the 1st reserved for cargo services, until February 2024.
According to the operating schedule for the new Luanda International Airport, the 2nd phase begins in February 2024, with domestic flight operations.
According to the Angolan Government’s planning, the last stage, scheduled for June 2024, will be marked by the start of international flight operations.
In the first phase, the new airport will operate with provisional certification, as there is not yet sufficient experience in airport operations.
The phased opening of the new infrastructure takes place for security reasons, testing, certification and staff training, to assess real demand, procedures that help minimize risks and ensure a smooth transition to full operation.
The new airport infrastructure occupies an area of 1,324 hectares, has capacity for 15 million passengers and a cargo volume of 130 thousand tons per year.
With two double runways, the airport is prepared to receive, among others, aircraft of the B747 and A380 types, the latter considered the largest commercial aircraft today.
The south runway (the largest), which is four thousand meters by 60 meters wide, received, in June 2022, the first experimental flight of a Boeing 777 type aircraft from the national flag company – TAAG.
In addition to the two runways, AIAAN also has 31 lanes, of which 19 are for international services and 11 are for domestic services, as well as 9 conveyor belts for baggage storage, six of which are dedicated to international flights.
The infrastructure includes 26 branches of the Migration and Foreigners Service (SME), a parking lot for 1,710 vehicles, as well as space reserved for shops, in an area of 1,825 square meters.
It also has 22 VIP lounges, a clinic and a first aid center attached to the passenger terminal, in addition to contemplating the construction of an airport city from scratch, which will cover a total area of 75km2.
Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport has ramps, elevators and trained staff to pay special attention to people with reduced mobility.
The new airport was designed to be a HUB (revolving hub where a large number of flights are concentrated at certain times), with domestic, regional and international connections, being Angola’s main gateway to the world.
According to forecasts by the Angolan Government, the entry into operation of the infrastructure will boost the growth of national and regional air transport, potentially benefiting approximately 415 million inhabitants in the sub-region.
It is expected that the new international airport will play a fundamental role in increasing tourism and promoting Angola’s image, as it will facilitate the arrival and departure of visitors, expanding flight and service options.
According to the Angolan authorities, the airport will serve as a “showcase of Angola’s culture, history and identity, arousing the interest of tourists and potential investors”, therefore being a strategic tool for the growth of the tourism sector.
As part of the construction of this airport infrastructure, conditions were created for public transport access to the new airport, through trains and buses, namely the construction of new stations in Bungo, Musseques, Viana and Baia, in addition to a connection station and the New Airport Railway Terminal.
ANGOP
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