Douala International Airport to be closed for refurbishment

The economic capital of Cameroon, Douala, hosted from October 5 to 7, 2015, a forum for actors of airport traffic in Cameroon.

Issues such as passenger rights, the situation of ground handling, poor allocation of slots, non-compliance by airlines, instructions given by managers of airports and the question of the eventual closure of Douala airport raised huge concerns.

According to the newspaper La Nouvelle Expression of Thursday, October 8, 2015, "the information is almost confirmed". In detail, the newspaper says "there will be two phases of work, a first phase which will last four days and a second phase for the rehabilitation of airstrips in January 2016 for 21 days."

The announcement was not welcomed by some representatives of airlines. According to the Air France representative "there is reason for concern on the closure for 21 days of the Douala International Airport planned by the airport authorities. This will have incredible negative repercussions and invaluable losses. It is a decision that we will not accept."

To calm things down, the Deputy Director-General of the Civil Aviation authority of Cameroon, Mamadou Allabira called for calm. "I still consider this information as a rumor. It will be wrong to close the Douala International Airport to traffic for 21 days without consulting all parties. This can not be done without people considering that airlines have sold tickets with the destination being Douala. And even this will be a significant shortfall," he said.

According to Allabira Mamadou, "We have to renovate the international airport of Douala. An omelette can not be made without breaking eggs. There will be a consultation, there will be an information and everyone will give his point of view. The committee will work and we will find a happy ground."