Monday, October 10, 2011

Bole airport expansion project to be completed ahead of schedule

(10 Oct 2011, Addis Ababa, Reporter)--The Addis Ababa Airport expansion project is due for completion next December, one month ahead of the original schedule.

Shiferaw Alemu, director general of the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise, told The Reporter that the contractor is expediting the work to finalise the project by December. Shiferaw said the enterprise has utilised 31 percent of the budget allocated for the expansion project, adding that the remaining 69 percent would be spent in the coming months.

According to him, the construction was hampered by the rainy season in the summer and by shortage of cement.  The enterprise will inaugurate the Jijiga airport expansion project built in the capital of the Somali Regional State after two months. It will also inaugurate the new headquarters built near the Addis Bole International Airport soon. 

The Chinese construction company, CRBC Addis Engineering, is undertaking the construction at a cost of 1.1 billion birr (66 million dollars).

The expansion project will enable the airport to park huge aircraft, including Boeing 747 and Boeing 777. Currently Bole International Airport has a total of 19 aircraft parking capacity and the expansion will increase this capacity to 44 aircraft. The total cost for the projects will be covered by the Enterprise.

The expansion project includes the construction of aprons, taxiway and restoration of the existing runway, among others.

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is located on the Southern outskirts of the city about 8 km. from the town center, at an aerodrome elevation of 2325 m. It is considered Ethiopia's main international and domestic airport and it plays an important role for the country as well as a hub airport for the neighboring countries.

The Airport has served the nation as international gateway for the last 44 years. The airport callers to the movement of 1.6 million passengers a year.
Source: Reporter

No comments:

Post a Comment