The Ethiopian Airports Enterprise announces that 80% of the first phase of Kombolcha airport has been completed. The new airport is important to the town because it is an industrial hub and needs to deliver products more efficiently said Wondim Teklu Public Relations Head at the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise.

The Kombolcha Airport is a 44 million birr project under construction by Akir Construction PLC. The first phase of the airport includes a 37 million birr run way and apron, 7 million birr passenger terminal and a perimeter gate.

The first phase has been affected by delays due to the shortage experienced in construction materials and the time it took to relocate farmers from the land allocated for the airport according to Wondim.  The first phase will nonetheless be completed by the end of the year he said.

The Second Phase of the project is under the TCD consultancy company and is expected to upgrade the runway. The runway is currently a gravel airstrip but is expected to accommodate the Q0400 Bombardier and other large aircraft at the end of phase two.

Civil work is expected to be started after the first phase of the project is finished by December 2011. It is expected that civil work will commence after the first phase of the project is completed in December 2011.

Source: Capital