Luanda: Angolan President João Lourenço took a significant step on Tuesday by evaluating the ongoing construction work for the road providing access to Luanda’s Agostinho Neto International Airport (AIAAN) during a field visit to the area. The newly inaugurated airport, set to become a crucial hub for both domestic and international travel, necessitates efficient connectivity with the city center, and this road project is a cornerstone in achieving that goal.
According to Angola Press News Agency, President Lourenço received comprehensive updates on the progress of the project, which aims to link two main roads to the AIAAN, traversing the centrality of Zango 5 and leading to the heart of Luanda. The construction, undertaken by the Angolan firm Omatapalo, includes key infrastructure works such as the concreting of hydraulic passages, asphalting, and the establishment of a sewage system. The project is slated for completion by June 2025.
In addition to the road project, President Lourenço, alongside governme
nt officials, inspected the railway segment connecting Bungo station to the airport. This inspection focused on various aspects including the status of railway fencing and the deployment of communication and signaling systems. The president also reviewed efforts pertaining to the cleaning, interference removal, and crossway construction to enhance the Luanda Railway’s operational capacity on the Bungo-Baia-AIAAN route.
Agostinho Neto International Airport, inaugurated in November 2023, is poised to commence domestic flight operations on November 10, with international flights planned to start in March 2025. Located approximately 40 kilometers from Luanda’s city center, the airport is designed to handle 15 million passengers and 130,000 tons of cargo annually. It features two runways capable of accommodating large aircraft and awaits international certification for long-haul operations.
The Angolan government has expressed its ambition to position the country as a pivotal aviation hub in Africa, facilitating
seamless transit for passengers and goods across the continent.