Written by ARC NKWAME in Kilimanjaro
FOLLOWING threats of terrorism, airports around the globe shut down waving bays and Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) management here is looking at reviving the one at KIA.
According to the airport which hosts the former waving bay, is about to be converted into a lounge for passengers arriving.
“The airport is becoming congested; for years the ground floor of the premises handled both departures and arrivals but now we feel there is a need to separate the two,” explained Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company (KADCO’s); Chairman Ambassador Hassan Kibelo.
KIA handles an annual average of 600,000 plus passengers traffic from nearly 20 different local and foreign airlines many operating daily and with an average of 25 per cent increase of passengers per year, the facility is shrinking.
With KIA boasting of a real estate covering 110 square kilometres of open land, future plans include re-building and expanding the terminal building, in addition to upgrading the runaway.
After the September 11 incident in the United States, KIA slammed shut down the waving bay where people were free to wave at departing or arriving friends and relatives at the terminal.
The former waving bay was converted into conference rooms, the airport hospital and make-shift offices separated by premium glass panels and aluminum bars.
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