Chileka Airport reopens for flights

Chileka International Airport reopened on Sunday following the completion of maintenance works on the runway which developed potholes, prompting its closure a week ago.

A statement from the Ministry of Transport and Public Works through the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) said the resumption of the operations at the airport has come following successful completion of emergency repair works which were being carried out on the main runway.

“The ministry is hereby assuring all concerned that following the remedial works on the main runway, the level of safety has been restored to the required standards in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation [ICAO] Annex 14 provisions,” reads the statement in part.

Malawian Airlines Limited, whose operations were affected by the closure as it suspended its flights from the airport, has expressed joy at the reopening of the airport.

The airline’s public relations officer, Maganizo Mazeze, said the company will resume flights to Chileka today [Tuesday].

“We are pleased to learn about the resumption of the operations of the airport. Our clients were greatly affected, but we are glad that the maintenance has not taken time,” he said.

Mazeze said they had a team from the airline that followed the whole maintenance process and from their inspection, the job has been well done, hence the decision to re-commence flights from Chileka.

But he said the airline’s daily return early morning and late evening domestic service between Blantyre and Lilongwe will start on April 1 2014 as scheduled.

Malawian Airlines suspended its flights to Chileka Airport from March 16 2014 and were only operating from Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe.