Congo’s president opens new terminal building, control tower at airport in capital

KINSHASA, Congo _ Congo’s president has inaugurated a new airport terminal building and control tower at the capital’s airport, nearly 60 years after it first opened.

Congo’s airline authority director-general Abdallah Bilenge said Thursday the new terminal can deal with up to 500 passengers at rush hour. The African Development Bank said it funded about 86 per cent of the construction that began in February 2012 at the N’djili airport.

Bank representative Valentin Zongo said the aging facilities were an obstacle to Congo’s development.

Airport commander George Tabora said the new terminal is meant for international flights, with an annual capacity of 1 million passengers.

Minister of Transport and Communications Justin Kalumba Mwana Ngongo says that $159 million was invested to upgrade four major airports across Congo, including in Lubumbashi, Kisangani and Goma.

www.porttechnology.com