After 26 years of design work and construction, the Dr Antonio Agostino Neto International Airport was opened for business on Friday last week by the president of the republic, João Lourenço.
The airport is located about 40 kilometres from the capital and will become fully operational in phases, with the first stage reserved for cargo services until February 2024.
The second phase of its development begins In February 2024, according to the Angolan government’s planning schedule.
This will introduce passenger services for domestic flight operations.
The last phase will commence in June 2024, which will begin international flight operations.
The gradual opening takes place for safety testing, certification and staff training reasons.
This approach means the authorities and airport management can assess actual demand for particular services and put in place procedures that help minimise risks and ensure a smooth transition to full operations.
The new airport, built at a cost of about $2.8 billion, extends over an area of 1 324 hectares and can handle 130 000 tonnes of cargo per year.
According to technical studies, it is also the third-largest airport in Africa in terms of passenger capacity.
With two parallel runways, the airport is capable of receiving B747s and the A380 aircraft, which is considered the largest commercial plane currently in service.
It was designed to be a hub for domestic, regional and international connections, which will make it a gateway airport.
It should enable Angola to export more products such as vegetables, tropical fruits, seafood and fish, among others.
