Hosea Kutako International Airport (IATA: WDH, ICAO: FYWH) is the main international airport of Namibia, serving the capital city Windhoek. Located well east of the city, 45 km (28 mi), it is Namibia's largest airport with international connections. The name of the airport comes from Namibian national hero Hosea Kutako.
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History
The airport was opened in 1965 during South African administration, and was then named J.G. Strijdom Airport, after the Nationalist Prime Minister of South Africa. It was renamed Hosea Kutako International Airport following independence in 1990.
Hosea Kutako International Airport is the main hub for Air Namibia. Until recently, the absence of limited, direct international flights to Windhoek have forced passengers to fly via Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, or Cape Town International Airport, resulting in additional transit visa costs, visa processing time taken by respective embassies and longer travel time. There are around 40 direct flights weekly between Hosea Kutako International Airport and OR Tambo International Airport. Condor Airlines introduced flights between Frankfurt and Windhoek since November 2014. Since 2016, Qatar Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines have started flying to Windhoek. Eurowings, the low-cost subsidiary of Lufthansa, commenced a bi-weekly service from Cologne/Bonn in July 2017. The airline plans to introduce Munich as a second base for direct operations to Windhoek from May 2018. In July 2017, Airlink has been granted 5th freedom rights to operate flights between Johannesburg and St. Helena with a stopover in Windhoek. As of October 2017, around 315 flights depart and land at HKIA weekly. In August 2017 Air Namibia was granted 5th freedom rights to operate cargo and traffic between Windhoek, Lagos, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana.
The airport handled 814,810 passengers in 2016.
Although Hosea Kutako International Airport is the main airport for international flights to and from Namibia, few domestic flights originate at Hosea Kutako Airport as those are predominantly handled at the smaller Windhoek Eros Airport, about 5 km (3 mi) south of Windhoek's central business district.
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Facilities
Though there are few services available near the field, the Sungate Namibia Business Park is being constructed just outside the airport, which will include car rental facilities, airline catering, a truck stop and bureau de change. Improvements to the terminal building have been the recently refurbished duty free restaurant, TAX refund facilities and public parking area. In February 2014, Namibia Airports Company acquired 11 Merce Rhino fire vehicles, of which 2 are assigned to Hosea Kutako Airport, (a Category 9 airport). This accruement exceed the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) safety standards. Free WiFi is available at the duty free restaurant.
Visa policy
The Government of Namibia allows citizens of specific countries and territories to travel to Namibia for tourism or business purposes for three months with an ordinary passport, and diplomatic and service passports without having to obtain a visa. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.
Namibia will soon start issuing African passport holders with visas on arrival at ports of entry as a first step towards the eventual abolition of all visa requirements for all Africans.
Namibia is expected to become part of the universal KAZA visa.
Visitor statistics
Most visitors arriving to Namibia were from the following countries of nationality:
Expansion
The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) is in the planning stages of constructing a new airport complete with aerodrome classification of category 4F (of the International Aviation Organization (ICAO) Aerodrome Reference Code in terms of Annex 14 of ICAO). This new development would render the airport to accommodate multiple wide-bodied code F aircraft. This project would require a new runway, including taxiways/ aprons. The NAC envisages a newly constructed terminal building that would include separate VIP check-in/ ancillary facilities. A new traffic control tower and fire station would complete the project. A N$900m/78km dual carriageway is being constructed linking the airport to Windhoek.
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
- ^a Air Namibia have been granted 5th freedom rights and will service traffic between Accra and Lagos.
- ^b Air Namibia have been granted 5th freedom rights and will service traffic between Gaborone and Durban.
- ^c Airlink have been granted 5th freedom rights and will service traffic between Johannesburg and St. Helena
- ^d Flights to and from Windhoek have a stopover in Luanda. However, KLM does not carry local traffic rights between Luanda and Windhoek.
Cargo
See also
- South African Airways Flight 228
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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