Japanese Ambassador to Malawi, Satoshi Iwakiri, visited furbishment projects at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) to check the newly constructed terminals, new check in counters, new radar and control tower equipment.

The visit follows after Japan approved a $35 million grant (about K26 billion), which was used to rehabilitate KIA, since the airport was operating without a functional radar surveillance system following the breakdown of the one installed in 1982 when the airport was constructed.

This grant therefore prevented the airport from being blacklisted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao), which gave a deadline for facility refurbishments, following the poor standards that were at the facility.

On the other hand, Blantyre’s Chileka Airport has also been under refurbishment, following the recent reopening of the main runway, which has been under maintenance since last April.