• The DRC launched the physical modernization works of Luano International Airport on October 13, led by Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba.

• Turkish firm Summa is executing the project, scheduled for completion by December 2026.

• The upgraded airport will handle up to 1 million passengers annually, strengthening Lubumbashi’s role as a mining and trade hub.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has started physical works to modernize Luano International Airport, six months after unveiling its national airport development plan. The initiative is part of the government’s strategy to promote air transport through the upgrade of domestic airports.

Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba officially launched the works on October 13 in Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga. The project began with the concreting of the new terminal, marking a key milestone in the airport’s transformation.

Turkish construction company Summa, which won the contract, will oversee the works scheduled for completion by December 2026, according to the company’s project timeline.

The modernization plan includes the construction of cargo facilities, the expansion of the runway, the development of a new traffic apron, and the renewal of navigation and safety equipment. These upgrades will complement the control tower and technical block built during the previous 2015 refurbishment.

Once completed, Luano International Airport’s annual passenger capacity will increase to 1 million, significantly improving the DRC’s air transport infrastructure.

Authorities said the upgraded facilities will enhance the airport’s operational efficiency and support freight movement in the mineral-rich Haut-Katanga province. Lubumbashi, the country’s second-largest city, plays a strategic role in the DRC’s mining exports and commercial logistics.

This article was initially published in French by Henoc Dossa

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum