Lubango – Over 500,000 passangers will travel every year through the newly inaugurated Mukanka International airport, in Lubango, southern Huila province, against the 120,000 handled by the old airport, according to Angolan Transport minister, Augusto da Silva Tomás. 

Addressing the inaugural ceremony chaired by prime-minister, Paulo Cassoma, the transport minister considered the new airport as modern, wide and fuctional, becoming the main entrance not only for Huila province, but for Angola,s southern region as a whole.
 

He said the construction of the airport was accelerated by the government's commitment to host the african nations cup of football Orange-Angola/2010, the continent's biggest sports event, in January.

"This day is special for the people of Huila and for the whole nation and for its quality and dimension, all angolans are proud of (the airport)"- stated the minister.  

Built in an area od 7,000 square meters, the new airport has advanced installations and technological systems, the runway with equipment for precision landing and all other means in accordance to international aviation rules.   

The minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to provide more quality and safety in angolan skies and airports, stressing that, under the regional economic development, the new airport will allow the redefinition of air links between Angola and the neighbouring countries, so as in the southern region and other international destinations.