By Bosco Bush
A civil society activist is urging the government to modify and upgrade Juba International Airport (JIA) to meet international safety standards.
Mr. Ter Manyang Gatwech expressed concerns that the current condition of Juba International Airport does not align with international standards, potentially putting the country at risk of extremist attacks.
He emphasized the need to modernize the airport with state-of-the-art equipment, similar to that found in Bole Airport, Jomo Kenyatta Airport, Cairo Airport, and many other international airports around the world.
“These airports are recognized as some of the best in the world, adhering to the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),” stated Manyang.
If the government lacks the necessary funds to upgrade the facility, Manyang said, “it can seek assistance from its partners to construct the airport.”
The activist also blames the airport staff for lack of work ethics in conducting their duties, especially their unprofessional behaviour towards travellers – which portrays a negative image of the country.
“The current staff at Juba International Airport are not qualified for their roles, demonstrating unprofessional behaviour toward travellers, both citizens and foreigners. This negatively impacts South Sudan’s image and places it in a precarious position in the eyes of the public.”
Countries with high-standard airports provide valuable insights and best practices. Many governments travel internationally, utilizing these top facilities to gather necessary ideas that can be implemented at their home States. Development involves observing successful models and adapting them for local use.
History
Juba International Airport, established in 1931, has a long and challenging history. Initially built by Shell, it underwent upgrades in the 1970s, including runway expansion and paving. However, it lacked modern infrastructure like proper lighting and communication systems.
The airport has faced numerous hurdles, including a coup attempt in 1977 and the devastating impact of the civil war that began in 2014. Despite the challenges, efforts have been made to modernize the airport, with runway extensions, terminal upgrades, and the installation of new lighting systems.
However, Juba International Airport has consistently ranked poorly in passenger satisfaction surveys, reflecting the ongoing challenges in providing a comfortable and efficient travel experience.
In 2016, Juba International Airport was ranked the second worst airport in the world in a survey conducted by The Guide to Sleeping in Airports. It was the worst airport in 2017 and the fourth worst in 2019.
During this time the terminal consisted of two adjacent tents to facilitate customs and immigration, arrivals and departures. A new, smaller terminal was built on the site of the original terminal by the Chinese. The new terminal was inaugurated on 29 October 2018.
The construction of a new terminal in 2018 marked a step forward, but ongoing improvements are still crucial to enhance its functionality and safety.
Accidents and incidents
On 19 December 2013, a Nova Airways Boeing 737-500 registration ST-NVG suffered nose-gear collapse resulting in major damage when landing at Juba. This was the same day that many people were being evacuated from Juba because of the South Sudanese Civil War. The Nova Airways aircraft blocked the runway for several hours, delaying the evacuation. The aircraft was repaired and returned to service.
On 4 November 2015, an An-12BK EY-406 crashed on take-off, 800 metres from the runway. The fully laden Antonov-12 went low over buildings at end of the runway and crashed in a wet area next to the Nile River. There was no fire after the crash. At least 41 people were killed. Three survived the crash, though one later died, leaving a baby girl and a man the only survivors of this crash.
On 10 December 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 357, a Bombadier Dash 8 Q400 registration ET-AQC excursed from the runway during take-off. The aircraft was substantially damaged. All 21 people on board survived.
On 22 August 2020, an An-26 cargo plane belonging to South West Aviation crashed after taking off on a charter cargo flight to Aweil, South Sudan. 17 people were reported killed.
On 2 November 2021, a cargo An-26 crashed soon after taking off, killing 5 people.