Malawi Airlines fleet to expand from 3 to 10 aircraft, destinations to rise from 7 to 27
By Edwin Mauluka
President Peter Mutharika has outlined tourism and transport as key priority sectors to spur Malawi’s economic growth.
Delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Friday, Mutharika said the government has already operationalised the Tourism Authority to fast-track flagship projects, including the Salima Integrated Tourism Resort and the Likoma Activity Centre.
To address poor road conditions and ensure sustainable maintenance, the President announced the reinstatement of the fuel Automatic Pricing Mechanism to guarantee predictable funding.
“I direct that tollgate revenues collected along the M1 Road be ring-fenced strictly for its maintenance,” he said.
Mutharika highlighted several major infrastructure projects under the Resilient and Strategic Transport Operational Enhancement Project, including rehabilitation of the 99-kilometre stretch of the M1 Road from Thabwa to Bangula, and improvements to drainage systems along the S152 Road between Chikwawa and Nsanje.
In the 2026/2027 financial year, government plans to rehabilitate key road networks, including the M5 Road (Kaphatengato–Benga), sections of the M1 Road between Lilongwe and Chiweta, Nsipe–Liwonde Road, Masasa–Golomoti–Monkey Bay Turn-Off (Khwekhwerere Road), and Mangochi–Monkey Bay Road.
Additional upgrades will cover the Lirangwe–Chipini road, Ntcheu–Tsangano–Neno–Mwanza road, Chimwaza–Nambuma section, and the Rumphi–Nyika–Chitipa road. The government also plans to construct Thuchila Bridge and expand capacity along the M1 Road from Crossroads to Murray Road.
On rail transport, Mutharika announced plans to rehabilitate the Marka–Bangula railway line, fast-track agreements for the Nacala Rail Corridor, advance works on the Kanengo–Mchinji line, and begin feasibility studies to extend rail connectivity to the Northern Region.
In the aviation sector, the President said the government will partner with Ethiopian Airlines to expand the Malawi Airlines fleet from three to 10 aircraft within five years, while increasing international destinations from seven to 27.
For water transport, the government will complete construction of Likoma Port, rehabilitate Chipoka Port, and encourage private sector investment in modern cargo and passenger vessels on Lake Malawi.
Mutharika also addressed congestion in passport processing, saying additional heavy-duty printers have been procured to boost daily production.
“We are on track to end the chaos,” he said, adding that his administration will roll out mass renewal of expired national identity cards and pilot a Digital Identity Wallet to modernise identity services, including the introduction of non-expiring IDs.
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