Sierra Leone Government Unveils Revised Terms For Freetown International Airport

Sierra Leonean Ministry of Information and Civic Education revealed key amendments to the Freetown International Airport contract, signaling a pivotal shift from the original terms approved in May 2021.

Original Contract Highlights (May 2021)

• New Airport development fee set at $150.
• Fee increase scheduled to take effect in December 2023.
• Government to receive a 30% share of revenue.
• Redundancy benefits for former airport staff covered by the government.
• Government committed to paying $20,000,000 for the 2nd and 3rd phase Airport Expansion/Development.
• Compensation for all overlapping contracts with the possibility of SUMMA applying non-Aeronautical fees without clearance.

Amended Contract Highlights (December 2023)

• Development fee revised to $100 with a $1 annual increase.
• Fee adjustment effective from March 2024.
• Government’s revenue share increased to 40%.
• SUMMA to cover all redundancy benefits for SLAA staff, totaling 7.5 million USD.
• SUMMA assumes all costs for the 2nd and 3rd phase Airport Expansion/Development.
• SUMMA extends support to resolve other contract overlaps, particularly with Westminster and SHP.
• Government now has a 7-day window to object to fee increases.

Contrary to Misinformation:
A) Passenger Figures:

• October 2022: 9,166, October 2023: 9,335.
• November 2022: 9,623, November 2023: 10,170.
• December 2022: 10,495, December 2023 (as of Dec 28th): 13,445.

B) Passenger Payment:

• All aviation/airport charges are embedded in passenger tickets.
• Passengers are not expected to pay these charges separately at the airport.
• The securiport charge remains at $25 and is the only charge collected at the airport.

These revisions aim to streamline the financial obligations of both the government and SUMMA, fostering a more equitable partnership while addressing concerns related to fees and revenue sharing. The government’s increased involvement in approving fee adjustments provides a mechanism for oversight, promoting transparency in the operation of Freetown International Airport.