Luanda, Angola, 19 Sept – The Angolan airport of Luena, in Moxico province is officially prohibited from receiving large-sized aircraft as of Friday due to reconstruction work on its runway, the national director for infrastructure of the Public Works Ministry said in Luanda.

At the end of a meeting with the boards of the Enginnering Laboratory of Angola (LEA) and company Soenco, which is inspecting work at Luena airport, José Silva said that the work would provide better safety and operating conditions for aircraft.

According to Silva, large aircraft would only be able to use the runway again as of April, when the work is scheduled for completion, and currently only aircraft with cargo loads of less than 20 tonnes were permitted.

The project for Luena Airport, awarded to Chinese company Sinohydro Corporation Limited, consists of expanding the runway to 3,350 metres in length and 45 metres wide, from 2,400 and 30 metres currently.

Silva said that the work carried out thus far was budgeted to cost US$9.5 million.

Closure of Luena Airport is part of the overall plan to rebuild Angola’s airport infrastructures, which covers the country’s 25 airports and aerodromes, with a view to providing quality services. (macauhub)