Travellers flying via Lusaka should be aware of increased traffic congestion along the main airport corridor due to ongoing road works on Great East Road. The disruption is affecting journey times to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), particularly during peak morning and evening hours.
Zambia Airways has issued a travel advisory urging passengers to plan ahead and adjust departure times accordingly to avoid missing check-in and security cut-offs.
What’s happening on Great East Road?
The current works along the Great East Road are a major rehabilitation and upgrade project rather than routine patching. The section from Munali Roundabout to Airport Roundabout is being widened from four to six lanes, with a flyover bridge planned at the Hybrid Roundabout.
The road works are currently causing intermittent slowdowns and congestion. While traffic is still moving, bottlenecks are expected—especially when commuter traffic peaks.
Because this route is one of the primary arteries linking central Lusaka to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), even moderate delays can significantly impact airport transfer times.
What this means for travellers
If you are travelling to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) in the coming days or weeks, you should expect:
- Longer-than-usual transfer times from central Lusaka and surrounding suburbs
- Unpredictable delays during peak commuting hours
- Increased risk of missing check-in if travelling too close to departure time
The key takeaway: build a time buffer into your airport journey.
Recommended airport arrival times
To avoid disruption, passengers should aim to arrive at the airport well ahead of minimum check-in deadlines:
- International flights: Arrive at least 1 hour before departure (earlier if travelling during peak traffic hours)
- Domestic flights: Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure (allow extra buffer due to road delays)
For peace of mind, consider adding an additional 30–60 minutes of travel time when planning your departure to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN).
Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) is about 23 kilometres (roughly 15–27 km depending on the measurement point) from central Lusaka via the Great East Road. The commonly quoted driving distance is approximately 23 km and the trip typically takes about 20–35 minutes by car depending on traffic.
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