There are a lot of optimistic airport projects out there, with very questionable logic. However, this might be the most baseless airport proposal I’ve ever heard of. Goodness gracious, I really hope they don’t light money on fire in this way (thanks to Sean M. for flagging this)…
In this post:
Uganda unveils optimistic mega-airport concept
There’s a new proposal for the development of a new mega airport in Nyakisharara, Uganda, named Mbarara International Airport. According to the proposal, construction could start soon, and the airport could be completed by 2030.
This wouldn’t just be a modern airport, but it would be one of the biggest in the world, even bigger than Ethiopia’s new mega-airport, which ultimately supports the continent’s biggest airline. So the airport would be able to accommodate north of one hundred million passengers per year, and the airport premises would take up 21 square kilometers.
Per the proposal, the airport would feature two 5,500-meter runways, the longest commercial runways in the world. Not only that, the airport would have a 3,700-meter VIP runway, because… well… I dunno, it makes no sense, you tell me.
So, what’s the argument in favor of this airport? After all, Uganda has a small national airline that loses a bunch of money, so why would you suddenly build a mega airport? The argument is that demand between Brazil and China is increasing, and Uganda would be a logical refueling stop for flights between the countries given that it’s essentially right on the way, greatly reducing travel time between the regions.
Interestingly, private firm Base Seven Company is behind this concept, and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has directed Ugandan Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to support and fast track this proposal. Per the letter:
I am writing to direct you and all the concerned Government departments, to help a Company known as ‘Base Seven Company’ to implement a mega transport project at and around the Government Aerodrome of Nyakyisharara, near Mbarara.
Why such a big airport at the hitherto remote area of Uganda? It is all on account of the hitherto unknown factor of the way the Globe was arranged by God and the new phenomenon of the unfolding global affluence.
Two parts of the Globe are very crucial in connection with this issue. These are: Latin America, especially Brazil, and China. These two zones of the Globe are now trading and communicating with one another. However, their route of communication is wholly irrational and uneconomic. Yet, if somebody were to come from Brazil, refuel at Nyakyisharara, it would take him 20 hours of flying time.
The Company will use their own money to do the developments and recover that money by charging the users of the Airport and the accompanying facilities, such as the hotels they will build there.
I love the “it is all on account of the hitherto unknown factor of the way the Globe was arranged by God and the new phenomenon of the unfolding global affluence” comment, oh my.
Below you can see a video about the proposal. By the way, I love the planes featured in the video, especially a little before the one minute mark. Are those… China Southern Boeing 727s, or Tupolev Tu-154s, or…? I also like the cameo of the imaginary Air China Airbus A380!
Nothing about this concept makes any sense
I’m not trying to be a jerk, but this truly seems like the worst airport concept we’ve ever seen.
Okay, let’s go with the premise that there’s increasing demand between China and Brazil. That’s absolutely true, and there’s no denying that Uganda has good geography for the purposes of a refueling stop. But even if that’s the case, it doesn’t make the concept any more logical.
The most obvious issue is that Addis Ababa has equally good geography with a strong, dominant airline, and we’re seeing a mega airport built there as well. So what competitive advantage does Uganda offer, over Ethiopia’s more well established operation?
Next, the scale of this just seems completely off. Okay, let’s assume we live in a fantasy world where this all works out. How many daily flights does the airport really expect to see between China and Brazil? The renderings show literally dozens and dozens of planes belonging to Chinese airlines on the ground, parked at gates. That kind of volume makes no sense.
For that matter, I feel like the people behind this project are kind of missing the point. If the idea is just that Uganda is a refueling stop, it doesn’t matter how nice the terminal is, or how many gates you have. Refueling stops typically just consist of passengers staying onboard as the plane is refueled, often parked over in a remote part of the field.
Uganda just being used as a refueling stop also limits the upside in terms of the economics, since it’s not like this will necessarily hugely develop the country’s economy. If a vast majority of passengers are simply transiting and staying onboard the aircraft, the upside is much limited than a new airport that greatly grows local passenger numbers.
What’s so bizarre to me here is that there are reportedly private investors behind this concept, and the country claims it won’t have to directly pay for this. I’d be fascinated to see the money trail for this project.
Uganda doesn’t exactly have a good track record with aviation. National airline Uganda Airlines (where both long haul planes are currently grounded) might just have the worst margins in the industry, as the carrier’s losses last year amounted to roughly 50% of total revenue. Talk about some subsidized airline tickets!
And not to keep ranting, but a VIP runway? Say what? That’s stranger than when the founder of imaginary airline Global Ghana Airlines claimed the launch would be delayed because they accidentally hired low altitude flight attendants instead of high altitude flight attendants.
Bottom line
Uganda wants to build a huge new airport, with the goal of capitalizing on travel demand between China and Brazil. Okay, Uganda has good geography for those purposes, but despite that, nothing about this concept makes sense. What are all the gates for? What’s the point of a VIP runway? What’s the competitive advantage over Ethiopia?
What do you make of this Uganda airport concept?
Spot-on!! I made a similar comment on Opera News and I was told it does not matter bcoz the investor money is not from Uganda. It made me think of the many incognito airfields in the DRC whose mainstay is to smuggle minerals out of the Congo! Are we with following suit with these so-called investors? I would rather ask those investors to funnel their money in other pressing issues like flood control and public...
Spot-on!! I made a similar comment on Opera News and I was told it does not matter bcoz the investor money is not from Uganda. It made me think of the many incognito airfields in the DRC whose mainstay is to smuggle minerals out of the Congo! Are we with following suit with these so-called investors? I would rather ask those investors to funnel their money in other pressing issues like flood control and public transport system in Kampala. I still maintain that this is a matter of having clueless officials in public sector. For instance, we have suffered with floods since time, but I bet you, if you asked any official at KCCA or the pertinent ministries to show you a comprehensive project plan to curb the floods, you will not get anything! Isn't this being clueless? They think they know it all! The least they could do is open the design to Ugandans to competitively design the project for financial gains...you will see people coming from the unemployed wings! But if you are to depend on goons who sit in offices from morning to afternoon whatsapping, drinking tea and reading newspapers, you will never move this country forward
I have not read any positive comment about this new airport,Africans with their Lugezi gezi will never take u s anywhere.If the airport is constructed can't it reduce the distance someone travels from from UK or US or Germany to go and trek primates in Bwindi NP ,or visit Queen Elizabeth NP or Kibale forest NP?why can't we think along those lines
But another thing is China has great relations with Uganda, I may be a bit biased given that I am a Ugandan, however, I think Uganda and China relations are better than Ethiopia China relations and the Ugandan aviation industry is not under ground just yet. Ironically, Uganda airlines hired the former head of operations at Ethiopian airlines, which I think was a great choice given the history with the carriers previous CEO. Claims are...
But another thing is China has great relations with Uganda, I may be a bit biased given that I am a Ugandan, however, I think Uganda and China relations are better than Ethiopia China relations and the Ugandan aviation industry is not under ground just yet. Ironically, Uganda airlines hired the former head of operations at Ethiopian airlines, which I think was a great choice given the history with the carriers previous CEO. Claims are that since she was Ugandan, it was easy for her to be persuaded by fellow Ugandan businesses in procurement processes. But with the New CEO a great turn around is expected, and the new airport in Nyakisharara is a great addition to the airline if it is able to strike a deal with the Chinease operators. One of my rather greater worries from this project is actually the control and financing system chosen, I think it is great for the Chinease to fully fund and operate it, but this will just cause a raccus for the country if the benefits are not well assessed in terms of profits for Ugandans. As per the passenger traffic, routes between the USA and Australia through Africa can get strengthened and other routes like Central America to South East Asia would also get stronger. The passenger number may not be a big issue, it is generally the geopolitics behind the airport that may come into play.
Addis' current airport and the new one incur payload limitations on account of altitude. But this new projet is less advantageous than the Entebbe airport.
The reality is that China-South America great circle distances are all in the ballpark of 9.5-10k nm.
ADD has an efficient hub which ensures fast transit but segment length and airport altitude limit efficiency. A 2 stop itinerary would be necessary to maximize efficiency and stay in the...
Addis' current airport and the new one incur payload limitations on account of altitude. But this new projet is less advantageous than the Entebbe airport.
The reality is that China-South America great circle distances are all in the ballpark of 9.5-10k nm.
ADD has an efficient hub which ensures fast transit but segment length and airport altitude limit efficiency. A 2 stop itinerary would be necessary to maximize efficiency and stay in the 3000-4000 NM air freight sweet spot.
The ME3 airports have a great location as a first stop from China (geopolitics aside), another seaside hub would be required in the gulf of Guinea, LOS, ABJ or ACC would be good candidates from a location perspective.
ADD and 1-stop ME3 would lead on speed but such a 2 stop system with a ME3-Gulf of Guinea trunk route would win on flight economics ability to finely serve the whole south American market. But let's be honest, the market is not big enough and the framework conditions not good enough in those 3 airports for such a system to work.
Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka: I built a brand new international airport in my hometown in the middle of nowhere, and now Forbes Magazine calls it "The World's Emptiest International Airport".
Museveni of Uganda: Hold my beer, son...
TravelinPenis of OMAAT: There's gotta be a way I can bring Trump and my micro penis into this conversation...
A bit early for April Fool. The airport is 6hrs+ drive (175mi/280kms) from the capital city and no large towns in vicinity. Absolutely no way this is going to happen.
I’d guess Chinese military project in part. They build and finance and when the Uganda govt can’t pay the interest they cancel the loan and surrender the right to a base there. VIP runway can land military planes? Belt and road. Pay for friendly Allie’s.
Oh, is THAT why I saw two Ethiopian A350s to China — one to trade hub Guangzhou and the other to tech hub Shenzhen? The China-Latam trade? You learn something new every day
Ethiopian flies to Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Zhengzhou, Changsha, Wuhan, Chengdu, Xiamen, Shenzhen and Urumqi with their freighters.
That is a lot of Chinese take-out .
I’ll add yet another reason this is a terrible idea. You’re building a huge amount of infrastructure based on the range limitations of current aircraft. Fine for now (ignoring all the other issues), but what happens 20 yrs from now when tech improves and the refueling stop becomes unnecessary? Maybe check in with anchorage and see how that worked out.
I like the look of it. I wish them well.
Is it just me or does the design of this airport look awfully similar to the design for Long Thanh airport in Vietnam?
The design actually looks almost identical to TFU airport in Chengdu, China
It's identical to the renderings of Tianfu posted online back a decade ago, I think they just slapped Mbarara on top...
Also aren't the ME3 airports nearly under this flightpath too? It only adds 55 miles to stop in DXB instead of EBB. http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=gru-can,gru-ebb-can,gru-dxb-can
DXB has the disadvantage of Iranian drone strikes.
This is the President’s home town. That’s the explanation. Full stop. lol.
This plan is very similar to some anti-car activists in the United States, who want subways and high speed rail to every town in the U.S. and who want to tax cars and make like difficult of Americans.
They should consider naming the airport "President Donald J. Trump International Airport".
Being in favour of better public transport is not “anti car” and people who want say a subway or light rail so they can get to work easier are not “anti car activists”. Plenty of rail stations have large car parks. Plenty of people who live in New Jersey have a car but ride the train to New York for work. Don’t make wanting more transport options a “them and us” battle - it’s not.
Ultimately this is likely a scheme that will allow these “private investors” to enrich themselves from state funds, paying hefty bribes, patronage fees, and employing family members of government officials as high paid “consultants”. Nothing will ever actually be built. Uganda is an interesting country with lovely people but its history of idiotic and corrupt governance is well known.
^ this
They will "develop" the project up to a certain point then give up claiming that it's no longer economically viable. But by then they'll own the 21 sqkm.
100%
Having lived in Africa, there are literally dozens, if not hundreds, of these projects.
Almost nine of them ever gets even to early construction.
It is a well known way to syphon government money into a sea of consulting firms. That’s also why the video looks so, well. You know,..
... which reminds me of... what's new with Global Airlines...?
I’d’ve gone with ‘Mastodonic’… I wonder what “His Excellency President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas, Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular” would’ve thought of this…
Sean M., our Africa correspondent, how should we feel about all this? Will we be able to ‘Escape from Entebbe’?
To be clear this is not a new airport. It is the expansion of the existing airfield at Mbarara which currently has a 5000 ft gravel strip. So you can escape already, albeit not to either China or Brazil.
Worthy of being named a trump project...
I have spent many months in Uganda. There is a zero percent chance this moves forward.
@Ben VS have created a secret spa concept at LHR clubhouse
Uganda be kidding me!
10/10
(Also, the title of Chelsea Handler’s memoir)
hahaha
It'll never be built , of course. "Corruption" is the first thing that springs to mind.