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Kadco secures USD 30 million for KIA rehab
Terminal building to be upgraded, expanded

By Adams Ihucha

Plans are underway to transform  Kilimanjaro International Airport into a  fully-fledged tourists gateway.

A multi-million-dollars transformation plan will see all runways, apron, taxiways and passenger lounge refurbished in a bid to offer holidaymakers a hassle-free trip to the northern Tanzania’s tourist’s circuit.

 Already, the Kilimanjaro Airport Development Company (KADCO) that manages operations of the KIA has secured a $30 million from a Netherlands-based firm, Orion Grand Facility.

KADCO’s Director of Finance for Corporate services; Bakari Murusuri told this reporter  that 50 per cent of the package is a soft loan and the other 50 per cent a grant.

In an interview, Mr Murusuri says the KIA rehab  designs work commenced in January this year.

“The reposition scheme will take three years and the idea behind is to give KIA a different outlook” he noted, adding that KADCO since last year has been running the promotion blitz to the market overseas, seeking to attract major global airlines to operate from KIA.

KADCO, Chief Executive Officer, Marco van de Kreeke said that during the renovation phase, the runway, taxiways and aprons of the airport will be overhauled and resurfaced.

 “A new taxiway will be built to increase the capacity of the airport and the terminal building will be upgraded and expanded to accommodate the growing flow of tourists into Northern Tanzania.”

Annually, over 650,000 passengers pass through KIA which is only second to Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport in size and number of passengers.

The Kilimanjaro International Airport between Moshi and Arusha which is now due to massive
renovations, thanks to a loan and grant from a Dutch firm.(File photo)

However, with increased traffic, demands for customer satisfaction, security concerns and growing competition, KADCO has found it imperative to benchmark itself with pace setting organizations, meeting and overcoming emerging challenges along the way.

“This is a big step for KADCO and Kilimanjaro airport. The rehabilitation of KIA has been an important goal since the airport’s privatization,” van de Kreeke pointed out.

Dubbed gateway to the Northern tourist circuit and world heritage sites, KIA was the first airport to be privatised in the country in early 2000. The new financial boost is likely to develop further the Northern Tourism Circuit which has been receiving thousands of visitors every year.

Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) Executive Officer, Cyril Akko welcomed the move but said the KADCO should also develop other tourism-related infrastructure and recreation facilities to lure overseas tourists.

Master plan
Already KADCO has developed a comprehensive plan that would see the 110 sq km estates surrounding the Tanzania's second largest airport, transformed into a state-of-the art, modern duty free shopping city.

Apart from the 40-years-old air terminal, the KIA area, strategically placed at the meeting point of three Northern Zone regions of Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Manyara, has for many years remained a wide stretch of unoccupied land as far as the eye can see, but this was bound to soon change. 
According to the master plan, the location was to become a midway city between  Moshi and Arusha, where prospective investors are  to establish, massive shopping centers, high class tourist hotels, Duty free outlets, Export Processing Zone, Educational Institutions, custom bonded warehouses, curio shops, golf courses and a large game ranch.

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