NEW MOZAMBIQUE AIRPORT OPENS UP TO AVIATION
South African aviation aircraft owners and stakeholders across the sector have reason to be excited following the recently opened Filipe Jacinto Nyusi (FJN) airport in Xai-Xai, Gaza province of Mozambique.
In an effort to entice and promote the modern, state of the air facility to aviation and tourism - all fees other than those for passengers - have been waivered until the end of April this year. Constructed as part of a larger-scale Chinese funded project called the Chongoene development corridor to the tune of (US) $60 million, the airport is part of a greater plan to open up the area to allow for the mining and transportation of much needed minerals.
It was handed over to the government of Mozambique in November last year at a ceremony at which the president of the country – after whom the airport is named - Filipe Nyusi was in attendance. The project was undertaken by a company called China Aviation International Construction and Investment and the airport has a capacity for 220,000 passengers. It has a 28-metre control tower and an apron large enough to accommodate four Embraer 170 aircraft.
FJN airport director Jacinto Mudaca said, “We are inviting all aircraft owners from all the SADC countries – including South Africa – to come to us and make use of our modern facilities.” “We want to encourage the tourist market and the aviation market. We want owners to fly in here instead of Maputo for example, as the immigration procedures here are quick and fast and will take less than 10 minutes.” He said at present the airport had one scheduled flight on a Saturday operated by LAM, the national carrier, on a route from Jhb, Maputo and the Seychelles. The runway is 1,8 km long and 48 metres wide and can take aircraft such as an Embraer 175 or a Boeing 737. He said there had been more traffic recorded for smaller aircraft like the Pilatus PC-12 and Pipers as well as some military training aircraft.
Meanwhile a South African, Centurion aircraft owner Kevin Moore, who lives in the Eagles Creek Aviation Estate and serves on the board said, “The opening of the new Xai-Xai airport has opened up new possibilities for me. I can now easily access my holiday home in what I consider a very special piece paradise. Think about it - I can now spend weekends and long weekends at my holiday home by a flight of less than two hours and a 45-minute drive to the resort. In the past I would have to drive a nine-to-11-hour road trip couple with a very unpleasant border crossing and navigate through two dozen small towns packed with traffic and pedestrians.”
He said, “While we are fully aware that the construction of this new airport is largely with thanks to the development plans that include the development of a transport corridor for the heavy sands minerals from the Limpopo Valley to a port that is going to be built in Chongoene, the benefit to the local tourist industry, which was almost completely destroyed by the recent Covid-19 era is going to be phenomenal.”
“It will be a game changer for the tourist resorts within the Gaza Province, and in particular those that are closer to the town of Xai-Xai. Now they can now offer airport transfer services to tourists from South Africa and other international countries – an experience not unsimilar to those only found in places like Mauritius, Zanzibar, Seychelles and other destinations within a two-hour flight radius of Johannesburg.” “The increase in foreign money being spent at the local shops, restaurants, bars and resorts will be of enormous benefit for the local economy. It will open up employment and wealth creation to a population of Mozambique who have largely been missed by the tourist market up until now.”
“The fees being charged to general aviation in so many of the African Countries around us in South Africa make the budgeting requirement a very large part of the decision to fly into these airports. With the waivering of these fees the Gaza authorities have opened their arms and made the decision for us as pilots and aircraft owners a really much more simple and attractive choice”.
Efforts to promote the airport are also being driven by the owner of a small marketing and advertising company in Mozambique called Terra Bonita Mocambique EI - Carol Powell who has thrown her weight behind getting the word out.
Working with all parties, she is part of an effort to create special tourism packages in conjunction with the national carrier LAM that will include flight, car and accommodation. She has called on all sectors of the aviation industry, charter, general aviation and recreational aviation stakeholders to get in touch. “The airport can hold air shows, the charter industry can offer flights to venues, the list is endless and the potential is huge.” Anyone interested in getting in touch or reading up on the area can go to www.xaixai-mozambique.com
World Airnews Magazine - Heidi Gibson
In an effort to entice and promote the modern, state of the air facility to aviation and tourism - all fees other than those for passengers - have been waivered until the end of April this year. Constructed as part of a larger-scale Chinese funded project called the Chongoene development corridor to the tune of (US) $60 million, the airport is part of a greater plan to open up the area to allow for the mining and transportation of much needed minerals.
It was handed over to the government of Mozambique in November last year at a ceremony at which the president of the country – after whom the airport is named - Filipe Nyusi was in attendance. The project was undertaken by a company called China Aviation International Construction and Investment and the airport has a capacity for 220,000 passengers. It has a 28-metre control tower and an apron large enough to accommodate four Embraer 170 aircraft.
FJN airport director Jacinto Mudaca said, “We are inviting all aircraft owners from all the SADC countries – including South Africa – to come to us and make use of our modern facilities.” “We want to encourage the tourist market and the aviation market. We want owners to fly in here instead of Maputo for example, as the immigration procedures here are quick and fast and will take less than 10 minutes.” He said at present the airport had one scheduled flight on a Saturday operated by LAM, the national carrier, on a route from Jhb, Maputo and the Seychelles. The runway is 1,8 km long and 48 metres wide and can take aircraft such as an Embraer 175 or a Boeing 737. He said there had been more traffic recorded for smaller aircraft like the Pilatus PC-12 and Pipers as well as some military training aircraft.
Meanwhile a South African, Centurion aircraft owner Kevin Moore, who lives in the Eagles Creek Aviation Estate and serves on the board said, “The opening of the new Xai-Xai airport has opened up new possibilities for me. I can now easily access my holiday home in what I consider a very special piece paradise. Think about it - I can now spend weekends and long weekends at my holiday home by a flight of less than two hours and a 45-minute drive to the resort. In the past I would have to drive a nine-to-11-hour road trip couple with a very unpleasant border crossing and navigate through two dozen small towns packed with traffic and pedestrians.”
He said, “While we are fully aware that the construction of this new airport is largely with thanks to the development plans that include the development of a transport corridor for the heavy sands minerals from the Limpopo Valley to a port that is going to be built in Chongoene, the benefit to the local tourist industry, which was almost completely destroyed by the recent Covid-19 era is going to be phenomenal.”
“It will be a game changer for the tourist resorts within the Gaza Province, and in particular those that are closer to the town of Xai-Xai. Now they can now offer airport transfer services to tourists from South Africa and other international countries – an experience not unsimilar to those only found in places like Mauritius, Zanzibar, Seychelles and other destinations within a two-hour flight radius of Johannesburg.” “The increase in foreign money being spent at the local shops, restaurants, bars and resorts will be of enormous benefit for the local economy. It will open up employment and wealth creation to a population of Mozambique who have largely been missed by the tourist market up until now.”
“The fees being charged to general aviation in so many of the African Countries around us in South Africa make the budgeting requirement a very large part of the decision to fly into these airports. With the waivering of these fees the Gaza authorities have opened their arms and made the decision for us as pilots and aircraft owners a really much more simple and attractive choice”.
Efforts to promote the airport are also being driven by the owner of a small marketing and advertising company in Mozambique called Terra Bonita Mocambique EI - Carol Powell who has thrown her weight behind getting the word out.
Working with all parties, she is part of an effort to create special tourism packages in conjunction with the national carrier LAM that will include flight, car and accommodation. She has called on all sectors of the aviation industry, charter, general aviation and recreational aviation stakeholders to get in touch. “The airport can hold air shows, the charter industry can offer flights to venues, the list is endless and the potential is huge.” Anyone interested in getting in touch or reading up on the area can go to www.xaixai-mozambique.com
World Airnews Magazine - Heidi Gibson
Flight bookings can be done at https://www.lam.co.mz/