35 Years of Possibilities:
The ZACL Story
About ZACL
A country’s airports are a source of immense pride. They are the first point of contact for international travellers, a gateway to a world unknown and a world of opportunities. Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL) was established in 1989 and wholly owned by the Zambian Government. It is the custodian of Zambia’s 4 international airports (Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport and Mfuwe International Airport), most of which have been recently upgraded, plus 8 provincial aerodromes.
New Heights to Zambian Aviation
ZACL is a critical pillar in achieving Zambia’s ambition to become a prosperous middle-income country by 2030. At the core of this ambition is enhancing economic and industrial activity which all intersect with the corporation’s work. On the one hand, ZACL employs more than 1,000 Zambians and provides continuous skills development to its workforce. Furthermore, ZACL has invested significant capital in developing new airport infrastructure with downstream effects of growing Zambia’s GDP.
On the other hand, ZACL is an enabler of economic activity by providing a world-class travel experience to international tourists, investors, and local business people who spend money to grow the economy. In 2023, the corporation recorded over 2 million passenger movements, a record number given the global pressures of Covid-19. The travel industry was the hardest hit as governments imposed lockdowns and restrictions which barred travel worldwide. Today, ZACL has rebounded to become stronger than ever, thanks in part to its dedicated employees who showed grit and resilience.
Soaring into the Future
Looking ahead, ZACL has set its ambitions on helping Zambia become a regional hub by 2030. This will be achieved by continually improving its airports. Given Zambia’s central strategic location within SADC, there is an opportunity to offer a low-cost and high-quality product to the region and beyond. The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), an initiative to liberalise African aviation, bolsters this ambition.
To achieve this, ZACL has invested more than $1.1 billion in airport and navigation infrastructure between 2017 and 2021, a significant contribution to the nation’s GDP. Furthermore, the corporation is positioning itself for success beyond aviation services by implementing a Land Use Plan, focused on non-aeronautical revenue generation. As per the plan, private investors can develop land around the airport for commercial purposes. Executing the plan will increase the fiscal resilience of the organisation and shield it from external shocks.
Few organisations are as etched into Zambia’s fabric as ZACL. For the past 35 years, the organisation has been the gateway to Zambia’s story, ushering in new visitors and seeing off Zambians into the world. The ZACL story in Zambia is a story of passion and struggle, opportunity and challenges. Ultimately, it is a story of hope and triumph with the lesson that despite what lies ahead, there is always a place to go and a place to come home to.
