The Civil Aviation(Amendment) Act,2026

An Act to amend the Civil Aviation Act. [12th June, 2026
ENACTED by the Parliament of Zambia. 1. This Act may be cited as the Civil Aviation (Amendment)
Act, 2026, and shall be read as one with the Civil Aviation Act, in
this Act referred to as the principal Act. 2. Section 2(1) of the principal Act is amended by the—
(a) deletion of the definitions of “National Aviation Security
Programme or NASP”, “National Facilitation Programme
or NFP” and “restricted area”;
(b) deletion of the definition of “harmful article” and the
substitution therefor of the following:
“harmful article” means a dangerous good, weapon,
explosive or other dangerous device, article or
substance which is subject to security control in
accordance with the Chicago Convention; and
(c) insertion of the following new definitions in the appropriate
places in alphabetical order:
“act of unlawful interference” has the meaning assigned
to the words in the Civil Aviation Authority Act;
Civil Aviation (Amendment) [No. 14 of 2026 565
Enactment
Short title
Cap. 444
Amendment
of section 2
Cap. 445
Single copies of this Act may be obtained from the Government Printer,
P.O. Box 30136, 10101 Lusaka, Price K20.00 each.

mendment
of section 2
Cap. 445
Single copies of this Act may be obtained from the Government Printer,
P.O. Box 30136, 10101 Lusaka, Price K20.00 each.

GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA
ACT
No. 14 of 2026
Date of Assent: 4th June, 2026

GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA
ACT
No. 14 of 2026
Date of Assent: 4th June, 2026

566 [No.

566 [No.

14 of 2026 Civil Aviation (Amendment)
“approved maintenance organisation” means an
approved maintenance organisation issued with a
certificate in accordance with section 42 of the
Civil Aviation Authority Act;
“approved training organisation” means an approved
training organisation issued with a certificate in
accordance with section 42 of the Civil Aviation
Authority Act;
“civil aviation security” has the meaning assigned to
the words in the Civil Aviation Authority Act;
“facilitation” has the meaning assigned to the words
in the Civil Aviation Authority Act;
“general agent” means a general agent designated under
section 151A;
“grievous harm” has the meaning assigned to the words
in the Penal Code Act;
“legal practitioner” has the meaning assigned to word
“practitioner” in the Legal Practitioners Act;
“national civil aviation security programme” means the
national civil aviation security programme referred to
under section 73;
“National Civil Aviation Security Committee” has the
meaning assigned to the words in the Civil Aviation
Authority Act;
“national air transport facilitation programme” means
the national air transport facilitation programme
developed by the Authority under the Civil Aviation
Authority Act; and
“National Air Transport Facilitation Committee” means
the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee
established in accordance with section 76.

and
“National Air Transport Facilitation Committee” means
the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee
established in accordance with section 76.

3. Section 8 of the principal Act is amended —
(a) by the deletion of subsection (2) and the substitution
therefor of the following:
(2) The Minister may, where the Minister is
satisfied that it is necessary or desirable in the public
interest to exercise the powers conferred by this Act —
(a) by statutory notice and for the purposes
of this Act, declare that the Republic
or any part of the Republic is, a danger
area, restricted area or, in consultation
with the Minister responsible for
defence, a prohibited area;
Cap. 445
Cap. 445
Cap. 445
Cap. 87
Cap. 30
Cap. 445
Cap. 445
Amendment
of section 8
Cap. 445

the Minister responsible for
defence, a prohibited area;
Cap. 445
Cap. 445
Cap. 445
Cap. 87
Cap. 30
Cap. 445
Cap. 445
Amendment
of section 8
Cap. 445

(b) in the statutory notice referred to under
paragraph (a), issue orders and
instructions in respect of a danger area,
restricted area or prohibited area or part
of the danger area, restricted area or
prohibited area regulating, restricting or
prohibiting the —
(i) navigation of all or any description
of aircraft; or
(ii) use, erection, building, maintenance
or establishment of an aerodrome
or flying school; or
(c) assign to an authorised person any of the
powers specified in paragraph (b)
relating to a danger area, restricted area
or prohibited area.; and
(b) in subsection (3), by the deletion of the words “restricted
area” and the substitution therefor of the words “danger
area, restricted area or prohibited area”. 4. The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following
new sections immediately after section 8:
8A. (1) A pilot-in-command of an aircraft flying or navigating
within the airspace of the Republic shall —
(a) comply with air routes that the Authority shall
establish; and
(b) not fly or navigate within an airspace declared as a
danger area, restricted area or prohibited area
under section 8.

thority shall
establish; and
(b) not fly or navigate within an airspace declared as a
danger area, restricted area or prohibited area
under section 8.

(2) An aircraft that deviates from an air route established by
the Authority under subsection (1)(a) or flies or navigates within a
danger area, restricted area or prohibited area shall be considered
to be an unauthorised operation and the pilot-in-command of that
aircraft shall —
(a) take immediate corrective measures to resume the
established air route; and
(b) comply with any special instructions given by a competent
authority, including an instruction to land the aircraft at
a designated location. 8B. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires —
“danger area” means an airspace of defined dimensions
where an activity which is dangerous to the flight of
an aircraft exists at specified periods;
“prohibited area” means an airspace of defined dimensions
within which flight of an aircraft is prohibited; and
Insertion of
sections 8A
and 8B
Flying or
navigating
within
airspace of
Republic,
danger areas,
etc. Interpretation
of Part
Civil Aviation (Amendment) [No. 14 of 2026 567

s 8A
and 8B
Flying or
navigating
within
airspace of
Republic,
danger areas,
etc. Interpretation
of Part
Civil Aviation (Amendment) [No. 14 of 2026 567

“restricted area” means, in the case of an —
(a) aerodrome, an area, building or place, in respect
of which —
(i) access control has been instituted for security
purposes; or
(ii) the Minister has directed the management of
that area, building or place or a person
conducting business at the area, building or place
to institute access control and the access control
is instituted; and
(b) airspace, an area of defined dimensions where the
flight of an aircraft is restricted in accordance with
specified conditions. 5.

instituted; and
(b) airspace, an area of defined dimensions where the
flight of an aircraft is restricted in accordance with
specified conditions. 5.

Section 73 of the principal Act is amended in —
(a) subsection (1), by the deletion of the words “Annex 17”
and substitution therefor of the words “the Zambia Civil
Aviation Requirements relating to civil aviation security”;
(b) subsection (2), by the deletion of paragraph (a) and the
substitution therefor of the following:
(a) the compilation, revision and development of a
national civil aviation security programme in
compliance with the Zambia Civil Aviation
Requirements relating to civil aviation security;;
and
(c) subsection (3), by the deletion of the words “Annex 17”
and the substitution therefor of the words “the Zambia
Civil Aviation Requirements relating to civil aviation
security”. 6. Section 75 of the principal Act is amended in —
(a) subsection (1), by the deletion of the words “and Annex
9”; and
(b) subsection (2), by the deletion of paragraph (a) and the
substitution therefor of the following:
(a) compilation, revision and development of a national
air transport facilitation programme in accordance
with the Zambia Civil Aviation Requirements
relating to facilitation;. Amendment
of section 73
Amendment
of section 75
568 [No. 14 of 2026 Civil Aviation (Amendment)

Civil Aviation Requirements
relating to facilitation;. Amendment
of section 73
Amendment
of section 75
568 [No. 14 of 2026 Civil Aviation (Amendment)

7. Section 76 of the principal Act is amended by the deletion
of paragraph (a) and the substitution therefor of the following:
(a) a National Air Transport Facilitation Committee for the
purposes of coordinating the activities of the national
air transport facilitation programme;. 8. Section 80 of the principal Act is amended by the deletion
of the words “to a fine not exceeding forty thousand penalty units
or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years, or to both”
and the substitution therefor of the words “to a fine not exceeding
three million penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding
thirty years, or to both”. 9.

on therefor of the words “to a fine not exceeding
three million penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding
thirty years, or to both”. 9.

Section 136 of the principal Act is amended —
(a) by the deletion of paragraph (c) and the substitution therefor
of the following:
(c) places, or causes to be placed, on a civil aircraft in
service, by any means, a device or substance which
is likely to destroy the aircraft or cause damage to
the aircraft, render the aircraft incapable of flight
or endanger the safety of the aircraft in flight;
(b) by the insertion of the following new paragraphs
immediately after paragraph (h):
(i) commits an act of violence against a person, using
a device, substance or weapon, at an airport
and that act of violence —
(i) causes, or is likely to cause, grievous harm
or death; or
(ii) endangers, or is likely to endanger, safety at
that airport;
(j) causes the destruction of, or serious damage to
the facilities of, an airport or a civil aircraft not
in service located at the airport if the destruction
or damage endangers, or is likely to endanger,
safety at that airport; and
(k) causes the disruption of services at an airport if
the disruption endangers or is likely to endanger
safety at that airport;; and
(c) by the renumbering of paragraphs (i) and (j) as paragraphs
(l) and (m), respectively.

angers or is likely to endanger
safety at that airport;; and
(c) by the renumbering of paragraphs (i) and (j) as paragraphs
(l) and (m), respectively.

Amendment
of section 76
Amendment
of section 80
Amendment
of section
136
Civil Aviation (Amendment) [No. 14 of 2026 569

Amendment
of section 76
Amendment
of section 80
Amendment
of section
136
Civil Aviation (Amendment) [No. 14 of 2026 569

10. The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the
following new section immediately after section 151:
151A. (1) An air operator or a foreign air operator operating in
the Republic shall designate, in writing, a person in the Republic, as
a general agent to act on behalf of the air operator or foreign air
operator for the purposes of this Act. (2) A general agent referred to under subsection (1) shall —
(a) submit documents to the Authority that may be required
by the Authority under this Act, the Zambia Civil Aviation
Requirements, an order, a notice, process, circular,
requirement or directive made under this Act;
(b) undertake an act or procedure under this Act or regulations
required to be undertaken by an air operator or a foreign
air operator;
(c) facilitate operational logistics of an air operator or a foreign
air operator; and
(d) perform other functions as may be authorised by an air
operator, a foreign air operator or the Authority.

operator or a foreign
air operator; and
(d) perform other functions as may be authorised by an air
operator, a foreign air operator or the Authority.

(3) An air operator or a foreign air operator shall notify the
Director-General of the designation referred to under subsection
(1) and the notification shall consist of the following documents:
(a) a certified copy of the instrument of designation of a
general agent;
(b) a written acceptance of the designation by a general agent;
and
(c) any other documents as the Director-General may require. (4) The Director-General may, within fourteen days of receipt
of a notification referred to under subsection (3), approve or reject
the designation. (5) The Director-General shall, where a designation meets the
requirements of this section, approve the designation. (6) The Director-General shall, where the Director-General
rejects a designation under subsection (4), inform the air operator
or foreign air operator, in writing, stating the reasons for the rejection. (7) A general agent designated under this section shall not,
unless the general agent is a legal practitioner, represent an air
operator or a foreign air operator in quasi judicial or judicial
proceedings. Designation
of general
agent
Insertion of
section 151A
570 [No. 14 of 2026 Civil Aviation (Amendment)

rator in quasi judicial or judicial
proceedings. Designation
of general
agent
Insertion of
section 151A
570 [No. 14 of 2026 Civil Aviation (Amendment)

(8) The designation of a general agent under this section shall
not relieve an air operator or a foreign air operator of its statutory
obligations or liabilities under this Act. (9) An act or omission of a general agent designated under
this section shall be considered to be an act or omission of an air
operator or a foreign air operator. (10) An air operator or a foreign air operator may substitute
or revoke a designation under this section. (11) An air operator or a foreign air operator shall, where the
air operator or foreign air operator substitutes or revokes a
designation under subsection (10), notify the Director-General of
the substitution or revocation within fourteen days of the substitution
or revocation. (12) A general agent shall cease to act on behalf of an air
operator or a foreign air operator immediately after the Director-
General receives a notification under subsection (11).

e to act on behalf of an air
operator or a foreign air operator immediately after the Director-
General receives a notification under subsection (11).

(13) An air operator or a foreign air operator shall, where the
Director-General rejects a designation under subsection (6) or
receives a notification of a revocation or substitution of a designation
under subsection (11), designate another general agent and the
provisions of this section shall apply relating to the approval of the
designation. 11. The principal Act is amended by the repeal of section 163
and the substitution therefor of the following:
163. A civil aircraft engaged in air traffic operations shall
carry on board the following documents:
(a) a certificate of registration of the civil aircraft issued
under the Civil Aviation Authority Act;
(b) a certificate of airworthiness issued under the Civil
Aviation Authority Act;
(c) an aircraft journey log;
(d) an aircraft radio licence;
(e) a list of names of passengers and points of
embarkation and destination, where applicable;
(f) a cargo manifest, including special loads information;
(g) an aircraft technical log;
(h) an air operator’s certificate, where required;
Repeal and
replacement
of section
163
Documents
carried on
board civil
aircraft
Cap. 445
Cap. 445
Civil Aviation (Amendment) [No. 14 of 2026 571

ired;
Repeal and
replacement
of section
163
Documents
carried on
board civil
aircraft
Cap. 445
Cap. 445
Civil Aviation (Amendment) [No. 14 of 2026 571

(i) a noise certificate, where required;
(j) an aircraft flight manual or rotorcraft flight manual,
where applicable;
(k) parts of an operations manual relevant to operations
conducted;
(l) a minimum equipment list;
(m) a category II or category III manual, where
applicable;
(n) an operational flight plan for all international flights;
(o) a filed air traffic control flight plan;
(p) a notice to airmen briefing documentation;
(q) meteorological information;
(r) mass and balance documentation;
(s) a roster of special situation passengers;
(t) maps and charts for routes of proposed flights or
diverted flights, where applicable;
(u) forms for complying with the reporting requirements
of the Authority and a holder of an air operator
certificate;
(v) a general declaration for customs for international
flights;
(w) appropriate licences for each member of the flight
crew;
(x) a copy of an approval for return to service in force
with respect to the civil aircraft, if any;
(y) search and rescue information for international flights;
(z) a certified true copy of a summary of an Article 83
bis agreement, entered into between the State of
Registry and the State of Operator, in an electronic
or a hard copy format and an English translation
where the summary is issued in a language other
than English;
(aa) an aerial work certificate for aerial work operators;
(bb) a certificate of insurance; and
(cc) any other documentation that may be required by
the Authority or a State concerned with a proposed
flight.

;
(bb) a certificate of insurance; and
(cc) any other documentation that may be required by
the Authority or a State concerned with a proposed
flight.

572 [No. 14 of 2026 Civil Aviation (Amendment)

572 [No. 14 of 2026 Civil Aviation (Amendment)

12. The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the
following new section immediately after section 166:
166A. (1) The following institutions shall, on a quarterly or
annual basis as the Authority may determine, submit
statistical information to the Authority in a prescribed
manner and form:
(a) an air operator;
(b) a foreign air operator;
(c) an airport operator;
(d) an air navigation services provider;
(e) an approved training organisation;
(f) an approved maintenance organisation; and
(g) any other institution as the Authority may determine.

ovider;
(e) an approved training organisation;
(f) an approved maintenance organisation; and
(g) any other institution as the Authority may determine.

(2) The statistical information referred to under subsection (1)
shall include information relating to —
(a) traffic, for commercial air carriers;
(b) fleet and personnel, for commercial air carriers;
(c) financial data, for commercial air carriers;
(d) on-flight origin and destination;
(e) traffic by flight stage;
(f) airport traffic;
(g) airport traffic filling requirements;
(h) airport financial data;
(i) air navigation services financial data;
(j) en-route services traffic statistics;
(k) fuel consumption and traffic;
(l) aviation personnel;
(m) cargo operations; and
(n) any other statistical information as may be required by
the Authority for safety, security, regulatory or planning
purposes. (3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) is liable to pay
an administrative penalty. Insertion of
section 166A
Submission
of statistical
information
to Authority
Civil Aviation (Amendment) [No. 14 of 2026 573

an administrative penalty. Insertion of
section 166A
Submission
of statistical
information
to Authority
Civil Aviation (Amendment) [No. 14 of 2026 573

13. Section 167 (2) of the principal Act is amended by the
deletion of paragraph (cc) and the substitution therefor of the
following:
(cc) air transport economic regulation, including the —
(i) licensing and market access conditions for an air
operator;
(ii) negotiation, implementation and enforcement of
bilateral air services agreements and provisions
governing traffic rights, designation of air
carriers and capacity entitlements;
(iii) protection of consumers of air transport services,
including passenger rights in cases of death,
injury, flight cancellation, delay, denied boarding,
baggage loss or damage;
(iv) obligations of air operators to provide
compensation, assistance and information to a
passenger;
(v) provision of fair competition in the aviation sector,
including prevention of abuse of dominant and
unfair trade practices;
(vi) provision of dispute resolution mechanisms; and
(vii) imposition of penalties, administrative sanctions
and other enforcement measures for non-
compliance with regulations issued under this
Act. 14.

(vii) imposition of penalties, administrative sanctions
and other enforcement measures for non-
compliance with regulations issued under this
Act. 14.

The principal Act is amended by the deletion of the —
(a) abbreviation “NASP”, wherever the abbreviation appears
and the substitution therefor of the words, “national civil
aviation security programme”;
(b) abbreviation “NFP” wherever the abbreviation appears
and the substitution therefor of the words “national air
transport facilitation programme”;
(c) words “national facilitation programme” wherever the
words appear and the substitution therefor of the words
“national air transport facilitation programme”; and
(d) words “restricted area” wherever the words appear and
the substitution therefor of the words “airport restricted
area”, except for where the words appear in sections 8
and 8A. Amendment
of section
167
General
amendment
574 [No. 14 of 2026 Civil Aviation (Amendment)