Angola's upcoming Luanda international airport, being constructed by China Aviation Technology International Engineering Company (CATIEC) will become a part of China's 'Air Silk Road' strategy.
On June 17, the naming and unveiling ceremony of the new Luanda International Airport in Angola, built by CATIEC, was held in the Angolan capital. On the same day, at the ceremony to celebrate the first flight of Luanda's new international airport, the Angolan Air Force sent a formation of three Chinese-made K8 trainers to overly the airport.
"The execution of Luanda's new international airport project is a manifestation of CATIEC's implementation of the national "Belt and Road" initiative and active implementation of the aviation industry's "Air Silk Road" strategy," a June 24 statement of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the holding company of several Chinese aviation and airport companies said.
The new airport was officially named as Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto International Airport after the first president of the Republic of Angola.
The newly christened airport ushered in its first civil flight with the smooth landing of a Boeing 777-300 aircraft operated by Air Angola on the 4F runway.
While CTIEC is constructing the airport, Chinese financing institutions provided financing support for the project.
The new airport will be completed and delivered in June 2023. Luanda's new international airport is designed as a double-flying area, with an annual throughput of 15 million passengers. After completion, it will become one of the most important hub airports in Africa, the AVIC statement said.
Since its delivery in 2020, the K-8 combat-trainers has undertaken a large number of Angolan Air Force flight training missions. A total of 12 K-8 aircraft, in batches of six aircraft have been delivered to Angola