Bunia Airport, located in Ituri, is currently undergoing a phase of renovation and widening of its runway, which is significantly impacting air traffic in the region. The work undertaken by the Mont Gabaon company has forced some airlines to restrict their operations, temporarily withdrawing their large aircraft to switch to smaller aircraft, better suited to the reduced length of the operational runway.
This adaptation by airlines to the constraints of the runway under construction has caused inconvenience for passengers. Indeed, flights are now likely to be more frequently full, forcing some people to be disembarked due to a lack of available seats on board. This situation has generated tensions between passengers and airline staff, particularly with regard to baggage management. Some travelers have thus found themselves forced to travel without their personal belongings, which has given rise to complaints and claims for reimbursement from aggrieved passengers.
Last Sunday, about ten passengers of the Mont Gabaon airline were disembarked due to insufficient seats on board, forcing them to bear additional costs for their extended stay there. These disgruntled passengers expressed their frustration by denouncing what they perceive as a form of fraud on the part of the airlines, thus demanding the reimbursement of their plane tickets and the expenses incurred.
The rehabilitation and widening work of the runway is expected to continue until February 26, 2025, according to information provided by the Airway Authority (RVA). Currently, only a portion of the runway, 1,200 meters long out of a total of 1,850 meters, is operational, thus limiting access to large aircraft. This constraint has forced several airlines, such as Busy Bee Congo, Mont Gabaon and Ituri Airlines, to operate with small planes, while even MONUSCO has had to resort exclusively to helicopters for its travel.
To overcome these difficulties related to disrupted air traffic, some travelers have opted for land or lake alternatives to travel to other cities such as Goma, Bukavu or Kisangani, via Uganda or Rwanda. This situation highlights the major impact of the work to develop the runway at Bunia airport on the mobility of travelers and on the operations of airlines serving the region.