KIA’s Terminal Three Ready By April, 5M Passengers To Be Served Yearly

The nightmare that comes with boarding an international aircraft at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), may soon be over as KIA thrives to outdoor the much-talked-about Terminal three (T3) by April, this year.

According to the Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), Mr John Dekyem Attafuah, the new terminal which is 87% completed would take off pressure from the already existing terminals—one and two, while it completely improves the existing on-ground infrastructure.

Speaking at the second Aviation Breakfast Meeting organised by Aviation Ghana, in partnership with the publisheronline.com and under the auspices of the Ministry of Aviation, Mr Attafuah said, the newly constructed airport was much bigger and furnished with ultra-modern services that would make facilitation easier.

“It’s more highly computerised, modern state of the art facilities, passenger boarding bridges, self-checking, lifts, bigger shopping area and baggage handling system would be bigger,” he assured.

The terminal is expected to handle up to five million passengers a year and with a prospective expansion of over six million commuters.

“It is projected that at its peak, we can process about 1600 passengers in an hour…currently we are doing just about 2million at terminal two every year.

“… all the things you ever wished to see in an airport, you going to see and you will proud of GACL. We will be getting closer to our dream of becoming a hub in the West African sub region,” Mr Attafuah stressed.

Unfair Charges?

Meanwhile, there’s been an outcry over unfair charges and taxation by management of the KIA on both passengers and air service providers. While there has been a fuss over cost of air site photo shoots, others have made a case against double taxation on guest airlines with more than one branch in the country.

Addressing the matter, the Minister of Aviation, Madam Cecelia Daapaah said, everybody doing business wants reduction but things should be done acceptably just as it pertains in other in jurisdictions.”

According to her, it would be difficult to wave of monies that is due the country’s purse adding that, “Ghana shouldn’t be cheated and they (airlines) also should not be cheated. We should always strike a balance.

In explaining issues of double taxation, the minister said it was standard procedure for the municipalities to charge extra for more than one branch of an airline.

She said, “You can’t have your headquarters in Manchester and a branch in London, and you will think the branch in Manchester should cover the one in London. We will not erase it. It is not double taxation.”

About the removal of import duty on aircraft spare parts, Madam Daapah said, “we are in talks with the Minister for Finance and we have submitted a memo to him for it to be favourably considered.

State of Regional Airports

While plans are underway to make a KIA an outstanding sight to behold, funds are being funnelled into the regional airports and airdromes.

The Ho airport is 95% complete while the WA airdrome is ready to begin operations.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]