New KIA terminal 3 to undergo simulation exercise

The newly-constructed Terminal 3 of the Kotoka International Airport, is to undergo some final simulation checks with some one thousand passengers in preparation for its opening.

The terminal, according to Aviation Minister Cecilia Dapaah, is scheduled for inauguration later in October this year.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 12 Routes Africa Conference in Accra, the Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company, John Attafuah, said the success of the trial will determine the readiness of the new terminal for public use.

Mr Attafuah said: “We’ll handle about a thousand passengers; they’ll pretend that they are travelling, check them in, get their packages through the baggage handling system to make sure that the baggage handling system in terminal 3 is very modern, it’s not like terminal 2 where we carry it outside to the baggage makeup area; now, it is all going to be controlled by the computer, so, we need to test all those things.”

“So, we have this major simulation coming up, we’ll have two and when everything works well, then we know that we’re ready to open the terminal.”

The departure at the new terminal has 56 check-in desks, 30 passport control centres and 80 security lanes. The arrival area has 24 immigration counters and four electronic gates (e-gate).

The terminal is also equipped with a fully automated baggage handling system to handle both destination and transit luggage at 3,500 bags an hour.