Douala Airport undergoes renovation following embarrassing roof leaks

The Douala International Airport is being given a facelift after water leaked out of its roof early this week and flooded one of the airport’s terminals.

A viral video showing rainwater dripping from the airport roof caused a stir on social media, prompting the government to swing into action.

CRTV reported that water surprisingly gushed out of the roof at the passenger terminal after the roof was renovated as part of general renovations that are happening at the airport.

As part of the ongoing renovations, the government intends to construct a workshop at the airport where equipment maintenance will be carried out.

The Maintenance Director at the airport, Jean Camille Ngono, said the workshop will provide enough space for aerodromes and other equipment that needs to be repaired, adding that this will help clear off the runaways and provide greater access into the airport.

The government says the airport will be given a new outlook as more access routes are opened and modern warehouses are constructed.

A recent rainwater leak at the airport shocked many. Water flooded the passenger hall after a downpour that brought down a section of the roof at the passenger terminal.

Jean Camille Ngono told CRTV that the patch has been fixed.

The Douala airport was last renovated prior to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations that was held in Cameroon in January and February 2022.

The facility was commissioned in 1977 by former President Ahmadou Ahidjo, with a 2.8-kilometer-long runway and twelve parking bays.

The airport has a theoretical capacity of 1.5 million passengers and 50,000 metric tonnes of freight per year. However, most of its infrastructure has become archaic and warrants renovation.

In 2016, the French Development Agency noted that the airport needed urgent renovation because the aeronautical roads were degraded, the terminal was basic and dilapidated, and did not allow satisfactory operation in terms of safety and security.

It proposed a project worth several billions of FCFA to renovate the airport.

The government is working on rebranding the airport and also increasing its capacity from 1.5 million passengers annually to 2.5 million.