The runway at Lubumbashi/Luano International Airport will be closed to all air traffic every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from April 16 to July 16, 2026 — a three-month operational disruption tied to the ongoing rehabilitation works being carried out by Turkish construction group Summa.
A severely restricted operating schedule
According to the official notice issued by airport authorities, the 3,200-metre runway will remain fully operational — open 24 hours a day over its entire length — only on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. No aircraft movements will be permitted from Thursday through Sunday. The restriction takes effect on April 16, 2026, at 05:31 UTC and expires on July 16, 2026, at 23:59 UTC.
For carriers operating into Lubumbashi — including Congo Airways, Air Congo and regional and international operators — the constraint requires a comprehensive restructuring of flight schedules. Of seven days per week, only three are operational. Passengers and logistics operators in Haut-Katanga, the mining province at the heart of Congo’s copper and cobalt supply chains, are directly impacted.
A strategic overhaul of the Copperbelt’s main gateway
The works are part of a major transformation project. Summa launched construction at Luano International Airport on June 26, 2025, in Lubumbashi, the capital of Haut-Katanga province. Bankable The modernisation plan includes a full rehabilitation of the existing runway to Code E international standards, with pavement restoration, new lighting and updated markings.
Beyond the runway, the project aims to transform Luano into a modern regional hub capable of handling one million passengers per year, and includes the creation of a parallel taxiway, a new passenger terminal and a cargo facility. The project also includes a 5,000-tonne freight terminal, a maintenance centre and fire safety infrastructure compliant with ICAO Category 9 standards.
Delivery of the full project is scheduled for December 2026.
Operational pressure on a key mining corridor
Lubumbashi serves as the primary air gateway to Haut-Katanga, the province that accounts for the vast majority of Congo’s copper and cobalt output. A four-day-per-week runway closure over three months puts significant pressure on the region’s logistics ecosystem — from mining majors and contractors to freight operators and service providers.
Passengers and operators are advised to plan accordingly and limit operations to the three available days: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.