On November 10th, 2023 local time, on the eve of celebrating the 48th anniversary of Angola's national independence, Angolan President Lourenço and First Lady Ana Dias Lourenço attended the opening ceremony of Dr. Antonio Agostino Neto International Airport and unveiled the ribbon for the new airport, announcing the official beginning of the airport's cargo function.
Angolan President Lourenço cut ribbon for the opening of Dr. Neto International Airport
Minister of State and Director of the Private Sector of Angola, Minister of Transport, Minister of State for Social Affairs, Minister of Economy and Planning, Minister of Energy and Water Resources and other provincial and ministerial level officials, Charge d 'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Angola Mr. Chen Feng, commercial Counselor Mr. Lu Yuzhong, member of the Party Group of Aviation Industry Corporation of China and Chief Accountant Mr. Zhang Minsheng were invited to attend the event. Besides, Secretary of the Party Committee and chairman of China Aviation Technology International Holdings Co., LTD., Mr. Lai Weixuan, deputy general manager of China Aviation Technology International Engineering Co., LTD., Mr. Gao Lei, Chairman of AVIC-KDN Airport Engineering Co., LTD., Mr. Cheng Jun, and all employees and representatives from all walks of life witnessed this important moment.
Figure: Charge d 'affaires Ms. Chen Feng of the Chinese Embassy in Angola, Commercial Counselor Mr. Lu Yuzhong had a cordial conversation with the leaders of AVIC-KDN Airport Engineering Co., LTD.
Figure: Zhang Minsheng, member of the Party Group and chief accountant of Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Ltd., and Lai Weixuan, Party secretary and chairman of China Aviation Technology International Holdings Co., Ltd. listened to the report at the direction center.
Dr. Neto International Airport is positioned as an international hub airport in southwest Africa, a key "the Belt and Road" project jointly built by China and Angola in the field of aviation infrastructure, and also a national strategic project of Angola. The new airport has two flight zones, 4E and 4F, which can meet the takeoff and landing requirements of large civil aviation aircraft such as B747 and A380. The annual passenger throughput is 15 million, and the annual cargo and mail throughput is 130,000 tons. At the same time, relevant supporting facilities will be constructed, and the construction area of various individual projects at the airport will reach 450,000 square meters. This project is the largest hub-type international airport with the most comprehensive functions ever built overseas by a Chinese enterprise in one go.
Figure: Real view of Dr. Neto International Airport
On the day of the celebration, Dr. Neto International Airport received the first flight carrying about 100 passengers from 18 provinces of the country, which took off from 4 de Fevereiro airport located 40 kilometers away, after about 15 minutes’ flight, it finally landed smoothly at Dr. Neto International Airport.
Figure: Dr. Neto International Airport departure Lounge
Figure: Cargo Terminal of Dr. Neto International Airport
"President Lourenço is an important driver of the completion of the airport, Dr. Neto Airport will become Angola's main gateway to the world, which will promote the growth of the African regional air transport market, benefiting about 415 million people in Southern Africa.", said Angola's Minister of Transport, Mr. Ricardo Viegas de Abreu.
Figure: 001 and 002 boarding passes printed for Angolan President Lourenço and his wife
In order to complete the glorious mission of "operating domestic flights in February 2024 and international flights in June 2024", all the builders of AVIC-KDN Airport Engineering Co., Ltd. will continue to mobilize all superior resources, formulate thorough engineering plans, and ensure the high quality and efficient completion of this project by means of scientific organizational measures in order to present to the Angolan people a deliverable characterized by reasonable planning, complete functions, advanced technology and excellent quality, and implement with practical actions the civil aviation infrastructure industry layout along the Belt and Road.