African airports 'must expand'

Date: 13/2/2012

An increase in passengers means African airports must expand if they are going to be able to cope with demand.

The East African reports that many carriers have plans to expand their fleets and double passenger numbers over the next ten years.

Furthermore, there is likely to be a growth in the number of people using the continent's airports as it gets more involved in business with other parts of the world.

However, the newspaper claims many transport hubs are not in a position to deal with these changes and "capacity at airports is dimming growth prospects of airlines."

Titus Naikuni, Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Airways, said Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Kenya is overstretched, which is compromising security.

"We are now forced to take additional measures in order to avoid any potential threats," he added.

JKIA is the largest airport in east and central Africa and is served by 49 scheduled airlines.

Posted by Nick Anderson