The airport opened in 1967 as Lusaka International Airport.[5] It was renamed in 2011 in honour of Kenneth Kaunda, the nation's first president.[6]
History
In April 1988, Zambia Airways inaugurated a route to New York via Monrovia.[7][8] Financial constraints forced the company to suspend the flight in March 1991.[9][10] It stopped in Banjul at the time.[11]
In May 2012, KLM began operating a flight three times a week between Amsterdam and Lusaka using an Airbus A330-200. The flight was restructured later that year to also serve Harare. In October 2014, KLM stopped operating the flight in favour of offering codeshare flights operated by Kenya Airways from Nairobi.[12][13]
In 2015, the government of Zambia began a three-year, US$360 million expansion and improvement of the airport, with funds borrowed from the Exim Bank of China.[14] The work, contracted to China Jiangxi International, involves construction of a new "two-story terminal building, 22 check-in counters, 12 border channels and six security check counters; a presidential terminal, a new air traffic control building and tower and a new hotel".[14] The new terminal was expected to open in 2019.[15] Construction was substantially complete by late January 2020.[16] The new terminal was officially opened 5 August 2021. All international flights use the new terminal, called Terminal Two, while domestic flights use the original terminal, Terminal One.[17]
Facilities
Terminals
Kenneth Kaunda International Airport has two terminals. Terminal One has no jet bridges and is used for domestic traffic. Terminal Two, opened in August 2021, has six gates and handles all international flights.[17]
Ground transportation
Taxis are the most common form of transport to and from the city, as it is a 15 to 20-minute ride to the city centre.[18] There are also 2 car rental companies at the airport, Avis and Europcar, but most hotels in Lusaka have shuttle services into the airport.[19] A bus line also goes between the airport and the Chelston bus station, but the buses do not run on a regular schedule.[20]
Statistics
After a significant drop due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and the opening of the new terminal in 2021, the airport surpassed its pre-pandemic level of passenger traffic in 2023 for the first time. Overall the airport accounts for 75% of all passenger airport traffic in Zambia in 2022.[21]
On 22 December 1974, a Canadair CL-44D4 operated by Tradewinds Airways caught fire after its nose gear collapsed during a hard landing. The fire was quickly extinguished and all of the occupants survived.[46]
On 14 May 1977, a Dan-Air Services/IAS Cargo Boeing 707 crashed after the right elevator and horizontal stabilizer separated during approach. The separation was caused by metal fatigue. All six occupants died.[47]
On 17 February 1990, a Zambian Air Forcede Havilland Canada DHC-5D crashed into a field during approach. All 29 people on board died. This crash remains the worst aviation accident in Zambian History.[48]
