Sikhuphe International Airport
Encyclopedia
Sikhuphe International Airport is due to open in 2011 in Swaziland
. It will replace Matsapha Airport
, which serves largely as a charter airport for small regional carriers such as SA Airlink. It will be able to handle up to 300,000 passengers per year.
government contributed USD 22m to the project.
It is part of King Mswati III's $1bn millennium project investment initiative to enhance Swaziland's position as a tourist destination, serving as a tourism gateway to Swaziland's game parks, Victoria Falls
, Maputo
, the Kruger National Park
and KwaZulu-Natal game reserves. However, it has been on the drawing board since 1980, and since then Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
has opened and Maputo
and Durban
airports have been upgraded. There are also environmental concerns since Sikhupe is near Hlane game park, and may put rare species of eagles and vultures at risk.
and is expected to handle 300,000 passengers a year. It will be able to handle Boeing 747
aircraft, and service flights to any destination in the world.
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
. It will replace Matsapha Airport
Matsapha Airport
Matsapha Airport is an airport located near Manzini, a city in Manzini District of Swaziland.In 2011 it will be replaced by Sikhuphe International Airport and will be taken over by the army. The handover had been expected in 2010 but construction of the new airport has been delayed.-Facilities:The...
, which serves largely as a charter airport for small regional carriers such as SA Airlink. It will be able to handle up to 300,000 passengers per year.
Construction
Construction began in 2003 on this $150m project. The TaiwaneseRepublic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
government contributed USD 22m to the project.
It is part of King Mswati III's $1bn millennium project investment initiative to enhance Swaziland's position as a tourist destination, serving as a tourism gateway to Swaziland's game parks, Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls
The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya is a waterfall located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe.-Introduction:...
, Maputo
Maputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
, the Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers and extends from north to south and from east to west.To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is...
and KwaZulu-Natal game reserves. However, it has been on the drawing board since 1980, and since then Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport located north east of Nelspruit. It serves travelers to Kruger National Park and there are also scheduled passenger flights to Johannesburg and, less frequently, to other South African cities....
has opened and Maputo
Maputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
and Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
airports have been upgraded. There are also environmental concerns since Sikhupe is near Hlane game park, and may put rare species of eagles and vultures at risk.
Facilities
It will have a 3,600m CAT 1 runwayRunway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
and is expected to handle 300,000 passengers a year. It will be able to handle Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
aircraft, and service flights to any destination in the world.