Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (IATA: LUN, ICAO: FLKK) is an international airport located in Chongwe District, off the Great East Road, approximately 27 kilometres (17 mi) northeast of the city centre of Lusaka, the capital and largest city of Zambia.[4] The airport has a capacity of 6 million and is the largest in Zambia, serving as a hub for its region. The airport serves as a hub for Zambia Airways, Proflight Zambia, Royal Zambian Airlines, and Mahogany Air.
Kenneth Kaunda International Airport | |||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Zambia | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Zambia Airports Corporation Limited[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Serves | Lusaka, Zambia | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Chongwe District | ||||||||||||||
| Hub for | Zambia Airways Proflight Zambia | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 3,779 ft / 1,152 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 15°19′54″S 28°26′03″E / 15.33167°S 28.43417°E | ||||||||||||||
| Website | zacl | ||||||||||||||
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  LUN Location of the airport in Zambia | |||||||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (2023) | |||||||||||||||
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The airport opened in 1967 as Lusaka International Airport.[5] It was renamed in 2011 in honour of Kenneth Kaunda, the nation's first president.[6]
History
editIn April 1988, Zambia Airways inaugurated a route to New York via Monrovia.[7][8] Financial constraints forced the company to suspend the flight in March 1991.[9][10] It stopped in Banjul at the time.[11]
In May 2012, KLM began operating a flight three times a week between Amsterdam and Lusaka using an Airbus A330-200. The flight was restructured later that year to also serve Harare. In October 2014, KLM stopped operating the flight in favour of offering codeshare flights operated by Kenya Airways from Nairobi.[12][13]
In 2015, the government of Zambia began a three-year, US$360 million expansion and improvement of the airport, with funds borrowed from the Exim Bank of China.[14] The work, contracted to China Jiangxi International, involves construction of a new "two-story terminal building, 22 check-in counters, 12 border channels and six security check counters; a presidential terminal, a new air traffic control building and tower and a new hotel".[14] The new terminal was expected to open in 2019.[15] Construction was substantially complete by late January 2020.[16] The new terminal was officially opened 5 August 2021. All international flights use the new terminal, called Terminal Two, while domestic flights use the original terminal, Terminal One.[17]
Facilities
editTerminals
editKenneth Kaunda International Airport has two terminals. Terminal One has no jet bridges and is used for domestic traffic. Terminal Two, opened in August 2021, has six gates and handles all international flights.[17]
Ground transportation
editTaxis are the most common form of transport to and from the city, as it is a 15 to 20-minute ride to the city centre.[18] There are also 2 car rental companies at the airport, Avis and Europcar, but most hotels in Lusaka have shuttle services into the airport.[19] A bus line also goes between the airport and the Chelston bus station, but the buses do not run on a regular schedule.[20]
Statistics
editAfter a significant drop due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and the opening of the new terminal in 2021, the airport surpassed its pre-pandemic level of passenger traffic in 2023 for the first time. Overall the airport accounts for 75% of all passenger airport traffic in Zambia in 2022.[21]
| Year | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers | 1,355,700 | 1,289,801 | ~400,000 | 565,179 | 1,234,083 | 1,523,919 |
| Source | [22] | [22] | [23] | [24] | [25] | [21] |
Airlines and destinations
editPassenger
edit- Notes
- 1 This flight operates via Dar es Salaam. However, the carrier does not have rights to transport passengers solely between Lusaka and Dar es Salaam.
Cargo
edit| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Astral Aviation | Johannesburg–O. R. Tambo, Nairobi–Jomo Kenyatta[43][44] |
| Kenya Airways | Nairobi–Jomo Kenyatta |
| Magma Aviation | Liège |
| Martinair | Amsterdam |
Accidents and incidents
edit- On 26 August 1969, a Zambian Air Force Hawker Siddeley HS-748 lost control and crashed during takeoff. Three of the four occupants died.[45]
- On 22 December 1974, a Canadair CL-44D4 operated by Tradewinds Airways caught fire after its nose gear collapsed during a hard landing. The fire was quickly extinguished and all of the occupants survived.[46]
- On 14 May 1977, a Dan-Air Services/IAS Cargo Boeing 707 crashed after the right elevator and horizontal stabilizer separated during approach. The separation was caused by metal fatigue. All six occupants died.[47]
- On 17 February 1990, a Zambian Air Force de Havilland Canada DHC-5D crashed into a field during approach. All 29 people on board died. This crash remains the worst aviation accident in Zambian History.[48]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ ZACL. "ZACL: Kenneth Kaunda International Airport". Lusaka: Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL). Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ "ZACL Annual Report 2023" (PDF). Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Airport information for Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at Great Circle Mapper.
- ^ Globefeed.com (12 September 2016). "Distance between Lusaka and Kenneth Kaunda International Airport". Globefeed.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ "Lusaka international airport". www.lusaka-airport.com. 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ "Zambia : Sata renames three Airports". lusakatimes.com. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ Harden, Blaine (30 July 1988). "Zambia's Airline Finds a Niche in Sanctions Against S. Africa". The Washington Post. ProQuest 307052873.
- ^ "Travel Advisory". The New York Times. 17 July 1988. ProQuest 426887576.
- ^ "News in Brief". Flight International: 10. 13–19 March 1991. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018.
- ^ Guttery, Ben R. (1998). Encyclopedia of African Airlines. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 219. ISBN 0-7864-0495-7.
- ^ McArthur, Douglas (13 March 1991). "Travel Advisory: Zambia Flights Halted". The Globe and Mail. ProQuest 385495641.
- ^ "KLM Introduces 72nd Intercontinental Destination: Zambia". news.klm.com. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "KLM discontinues flight services to Lusaka, Zambia an Harare, Zimbabwe". news.klm.com. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ a b Economy (10 June 2015). "Exim Bank of China releases US$108 million for airport expansion". Lusaka Times. Lusaka. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ "KKIA NEW TERMINAL 50% COMPLETE – ZNBC". Archived from the original on 7 November 2017.
- ^ "Progress at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Pictures". Lusaka Times. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ a b HALLEBACH, Peter (8 May 2021). "The new Terminal 2 at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) in Lusaka is now operationa". travelnews.africa. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "To and from the Airport.com - Zambia". Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ "Airport Transportaion [sic]". www.zacl.co.zm. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ "Taxis, parking and car rental at Lusaka Airport". www.lusaka-airport.com. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Annual Report 2023" (PDF). Zambia Airports Corporation Limited. 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Annual Report 2019" (PDF). zacl.co.zm. Zambia Airports Corportation Limited. 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Annual Report 2021" (PDF). Zambian Airports Corporation Limited. 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Annual Report 2021" (PDF). Zambia Airports Corporation Limited. 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Annual Report 2022" (PDF). Zambia Airport Corporation Limited. 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Ethiopian Airlines NS23 Africa Service Changes – 06JAN23". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ^ "LAM Mozambique Resumes Lusaka Service From late-June 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ Routes Online (10 January 2014). "Malawian Airlines Revises Planned Launch Date". Manchester, United Kingdom: Routesonline.com. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ "PROFLIGHT ADDS CAPE TOWN TO ITS GROWING LIST OF SA DESTINATIONS". Proflight Zambia. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023.
- ^ "Proflight Zambia".[full citation needed]
- ^ "ProFlight Zambia Adds Kasama; Mansa Service Changes From March 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ "ProFlight Zambia Adds Mfuwe – Lilongwe Sector From June 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "South Luangwa Proflight Zambia shuttle flights". SouthLuangwa.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ "Qatar Airways to launch new route to Lusaka and Harare from 6 August | Qatar Airways".
- ^ Routes Online (10 March 2015). "Rwandair Adds Lusaka - Johannesburg Service from late March 2015". Manchester, United Kingdom: Routesonline.com. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ "SAA takes off on September 23 with these routes".
- ^ "THY Lusaka seferlerine başlıyor". 22 December 2022.
- ^ Javira Ssebwami (17 July 2024). "Uganda Airlines Expands Network With Triple Launch of New Destinations". PML Daily. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Zambia Airways Adds Dar es Salaam / Nairobi Service From late-June 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ "Zambia Airways Adds Johannesburg Flights From June 2022". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
- ^ "Zambia Airways Adds Mfuwe Service From May 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ Orban, André (29 November 2021). "Ethiopian participates in re-launching of Zambia Airways". Aviation24.be. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "EX – NAIROBI SCHEDULE". Astral Aviation. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ "EX – JOHANNESBURG SCHEDULE". Astral Aviation. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Hawker Siddeley HS-748-231 Srs. 2 AF-601 Lusaka Airport (LUN)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Canadair CL-44D4-1 G-AWSC Lusaka Airport (LUN)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 707-321C G-BEBP Lusaka Airport (LUN)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland Canada DHC-5D Buffalo AF-316 Lusaka Airport (LUN)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
