Infrasctructure & Finance Trails: Week 25, 2026

The MOZAMBIQUE Government has approved its Civil Aviation Master Plan (PDAC) 2026–2045, outlining an ambitious US$710.6 million investment programme aimed at transforming the country's aviation sector into a key driver of economic growth, national integration, tourism and regional connectivity. The plan allocates US$440 million to modernising airport infrastructure, including the expansion and refurbishment of Maputo, Beira and the underutilised Nacala International Airport, while a further US$210 million will fund the modernisation of airspace management through the installation of radar systems, ADS-B and ADS-C surveillance technologies, digitisation of aeronautical information, and the creation of a new National Air Navigation Agency (ANA) to separate air navigation services from airport management. Institutional reforms will also strengthen the autonomy of the Mozambican Civil Aviation Institute (IACM), while the government aims to achieve over 95% compliance with ICAO safety audit standards by 2035 through enhanced regulatory oversight, cybersecurity, infrastructure certification and specialised workforce training. The plan includes 142 strategic measures, with 80 to be implemented within the first five years, focusing on addressing ICAO findings, improving critical infrastructure, and developing aviation professionals through the revival of the National Civil Aviation Academy. Based on projections from 2024 traffic levels of 2.03 million passengers, the strategy forecasts Maputo International Airport handling nearly 2.8 million passengers annually by 2050, with Beira expected to serve 568,000 passengers and Nacala around 200,000 passengers per year. Funding is expected to come from the state budget, public-private partnerships, and development partners including the World Bank, African Development Bank, European Union, JICA, and green financing mechanisms, reinforcing MOZAMBIQUE'S vision of building a safe, competitive, sustainable and internationally compliant aviation sector.

SOUTH SUDAN is set to inaugurate Terminal 3 (locally known as the ROCO terminal) at Juba International Airport on July 9, 2026, strategically timed to coincide with Independence Day celebrations. The long-delayed infrastructure project, whose initial planning dates back over a decade, is nearing completion following intensified construction that resumed in February 2026 under GS Construction Company, working extended shifts to meet the deadline. Airport management confirmed that internal and external works are largely complete, with final installations underway, and expects the new terminal to significantly ease chronic congestion at the country’s main air gateway. Once operational, Terminal 3 will expand immigration and processing capacity, improve separation of domestic and international flows, and enhance overall passenger handling efficiency, with authorities anticipating increased airline interest and improved connectivity for SOUTH SUDAN. The airport also plays a critical national role as a hub for government, commercial, and humanitarian operations, including UN missions, making the upgrade a key step in strengthening both aviation infrastructure and national logistics capacity.

EGYPT-based Alkan Air Ltd. has expanded its footprint in Africa's growing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector after securing approval from BURKINA FASO'S Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) to perform both line and base maintenance on foreign-registered aircraft operating in the country. The certification authorizes the company to provide a comprehensive range of aircraft maintenance services, including routine transit and scheduled inspections, defect rectification, component replacement, troubleshooting and heavier maintenance checks, enabling airlines to access certified technical support within BURKINA FASO rather than ferrying aircraft to overseas facilities. The approval strengthens Alkan Air's regulatory presence in West Africa and complements its existing certifications from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), further reinforcing its compliance with internationally recognized aviation safety and airworthiness standards. As an established provider of charter operations, aircraft management and MRO services, Alkan Air is strategically positioned to support regional and international operators across the continent at a time when African airlines are increasingly seeking local maintenance solutions to reduce aircraft downtime, lower operating costs and minimize foreign exchange expenditures associated with overseas maintenance. The latest approval also contributes to broader efforts to enhance Africa's indigenous MRO capabilities, improve technical self-sufficiency and strengthen the continent's aviation support infrastructure as air traffic and fleet expansion continue to accelerate.

The World Food Programme (WFP), funded by the UK’S Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has handed over an upgraded all-weather airstrip in Leer County, Unity State, to the local government in SOUTH SUDAN, aimed at improving year-round humanitarian access, trade, and transport in a region frequently isolated by flooding and weak road infrastructure. The rehabilitation will enable continuous operations for humanitarian, government, and commercial flights, significantly improving the delivery of food, medical supplies, and essential services to remote communities. Officials from WFP and the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority highlighted its importance in strengthening domestic connectivity and reducing isolation, while local authorities emphasized its potential to stimulate economic activity in an area heavily affected by seasonal floods since 2020. Although welcomed as a major improvement, county leaders called for further upgrades, including runway markings, passenger facilities, sanitation infrastructure, and runway extension to accommodate larger aircraft, alongside better road links to distribution centres.

KENYA has signed a KES 154.2 billion (US$1.2 billion) agreement with China Road and Bridge Corporation to expand Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, a landmark project aimed at reinforcing Nairobi's position as East Africa's leading aviation hub. The expansion will nearly triple the airport's annual passenger handling capacity from 7.5 million to 22 million, through the construction of a new passenger terminal, upgraded support facilities, and the modernization of both airside and landside infrastructure to improve operational efficiency. The project replaces an earlier agreement with INDIA'S Adani Group, which was cancelled in 2024, and comes as KENYA seeks to remain competitive with regional aviation investments in ETHIOPIA and RWANDA. Financing for the project is being arranged by the Trade and Development Bank and the Africa Finance Corporation, underscoring the strategic importance of the airport expansion to KENYA'S long-term aviation and economic development ambitions.