Bulawayo Airport Set for Major Expansion to Handle Boeing 777s and Airbus A350s

 

The Airports Company of Zimbabwe is set to upgrade Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo, extending the runway from 2.5 km to 4.5 km.

The expansion comes in response to a significant increase in passenger traffic, which rose from 146,628 in 2022 to 189,271 in 2024, according to airport passenger traffic reports.

“The increase in passenger traffic from 147,000 in 2022 to 188,000 in 2024 has driven the urgent need for expansion,” ACZ noted in relation to the project.

Upgrades, scheduled to begin in 2026, will also include refurbishing the control tower, adding a cargo village with cold storage, and installing a 5MW solar power plant.

The expansion will enable the airport to accommodate wide-body aircraft such as Boeing 777s and Airbus A350s, enhancing its connectivity. Once completed, the airport will be better equipped to handle growing passenger and cargo volumes efficiently.