Sierra Leone is one of the world’s poorest countries, with an estimated 70 per cent of the population living on less than a pound a day.
As a result, fostering a brighter economic future has become a top priority for the African country.
One key move was to make the most of Sierra Leone’s emerging tourist destination, home to pristine beaches, rainforests and other natural areas and a vibrant culture. Despite having a trade deficit, it is also a significant trading country of minerals and precious stones.
So, in a project designed to bolster Sierra Leone’s infrastructure and foster growth and development, a $270 million (£214 million) expansion of its airport, Freetown International, was started.
After gaining parliamentary approval in December 2020, the project included a new passenger terminal, VIP terminal, taxiways and runway widening.
The annual capacity was planned to be one million passengers, with the capacity to handle eight wide-bodied aircraft at any one time. It is an impressive three times larger than the size of the original terminal, capable of handling five times more passengers than the previous maximum.
The new 14,000-square-metre facility, powered by a 1.5-megawatt solar farm, is the first fully green airport terminal in West Africa.
The next construction stage is the construction of a five-star hotel near the airport to encourage more international airlines to re-establish flights to Freetown. Local hotels currently do not meet aircrew requirements, reducing Freetown’s appeal as a hub where planes can overnight.
The new terminal officially opened in March 2023, with President Julius Maada Bio saying: “Today is a great day, a new day for all of us. This is the first time in the history of this country that a completely new international airport terminal has been constructed, one that has the latest technology and the highest compliance standards to make it more attractive to more international airlines.
“Today we have an ultra-modern air terminal that is three times larger than the existing terminal and has brand new facilities that will accommodate up to one million passengers a year to make it a major transit hub in the sub-region.
“We now have on offer a safer, modern and very comfortable airport.’’
Kabineh Kallon, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, noted: “An airport, as the first point of entry into a country, is the face of that country. This is our airport – the pride of Sierra Leone.
“Again, let us tell our own story to the world – that Sierra Leone is moving in the right direction, in the New Direction. Already, we have at least three more international airlines that have shown interest in landing at this airport.’’
Summa, a Turkish construction company with a worldwide portfolio of marquee projects, including airports, convention centres and hotels, built the new terminal.
Under the terms of the Build, Operate, and Transfer (“BOT”) contract signed with the government of Sierra Leone, Summa will operate the facility for 25 years, generating earnings to cover the construction outlay before handing over ownership to the Sierra Leone government.