The Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment) Act,2026

An Act to amend the Civil Aviation Authority Act.
[ 12th June, 2026
ENACTED by the Parliament of Zambia.
1. This Act may be cited as the Civil Aviation Authority
(Amendment) Act, 2026, and shall be read as one with the Civil
Aviation Authority Act, in this Act referred to as the principal Act.
2. Section 2(1) of the principal Act is amended by the insertion
of the following new definitions in the appropriate places in
alphabetical order:
“act of unlawful interference” means an act, or attempted
act, committed by a person that threatens the safety of
civil aviation and includes—
(a) unlawful seizure of aircraft;
(b) destruction of aircraft in service;
(c) hostage-taking on board aircraft or at an aerodrome;
(d) forcible intrusion on board an aircraft, at an airport
or on the premises of an aeronautical facility;
Short title
Cap. 445
Amendment
of section 2
[No. 15 of 2026 575Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment)
GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA
ACT
No. 15 of 2026
Date of Assent: 4th June, 2026
Enactment
Single copies of this Act may be obtained from the Government Printer,
P.O. Box 30136, 10101 Lusaka, Price K 20.00 each.

ent: 4th June, 2026
Enactment
Single copies of this Act may be obtained from the Government Printer,
P.O. Box 30136, 10101 Lusaka, Price K 20.00 each.

(e) introduction on board an aircraft or at an airport of a
weapon, hazardous device or material intended for
criminal purposes;
(f) use of an aircraft in service for the purpose of causing
death, grievous harm or serious damage to property
or the environment; or
(g) communication of false information which results in
threatening the safety of an aircraft in flight or
aircraft on ground, passengers, crew, ground
personnel or the general public at an airport or on
premises of an aviation facility;
“advance passenger information” means the information—
(a) captured by an aircraft operator, prior to flight
departure or flight arrival, relating to a passenger’s
and crew member’s biographic data, details of
travel documents and flight details; and
(b) referred to under paragraph (a), transmitted
electronically by the aircraft operator to the
Authority and a relevant authority responsible for
border control in the country of departure and the
country of destination;
“Advance Passenger Information System” means the Advance
Passenger Information System established under section
33A;
“civil aviation security” means the safeguarding, through a
combination of measures, human resources and material
resources, of civil aviation against an act of unlawful
interference;
“facilitation” means the efficient management of necessary
control processes with an objective of expediting the
clearance of persons or goods and preventing unnecessary
operational delays;
“grievous harm” has the meaning assigned to the words in
the Penal Code Act;
“National Civil Aviation Security Committee” means the
National Civil Aviation Security Committee constituted in
accordance with section 21;
Cap.

Act;
“National Civil Aviation Security Committee” means the
National Civil Aviation Security Committee constituted in
accordance with section 21;
Cap.

87
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576 No. 15 of 2026] Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment)

“Immigration Department” has the meaning assigned to the
word “Department” in the Immigration and Deportation
Act;
“passenger name record” means a record created by an
aircraft operator or the aircraft operator’s authorised agent
relating to each journey booked by, or on behalf of, a
passenger;
“regulated agent” means an agent, freight forwarder or any
other entity which conducts business with an aircraft
operator and provides security controls that are accepted
or required by the Authority relating to cargo and mail; and
“Zambia Air Force” means the Zambia Air Force established
under the Constitution. 3. Section 4(1) of the principal Act is amended by the—
(a) insertion of the following new paragraph immediately after
paragraph (b):
(c) ensure compliance with and enforce national civil
aviation security policies and the Zambia Civil
Aviation Requirements where deficiencies are
identified by the Authority when carrying out
regulatory activities; and
(b) renumbering of paragraphs (c), (d), (e) and (f) as
paragraphs (d), (e), (f) and (g), respectively. 4.

when carrying out
regulatory activities; and
(b) renumbering of paragraphs (c), (d), (e) and (f) as
paragraphs (d), (e), (f) and (g), respectively. 4.

Section 5 of the principal Act is amended by the—
(a) deletion of subsection (1) and the substitution therefor of
the following:
(1) There is constituted a Board of the Authority
which consists of the following part-time
members appointed by the Minister:
(a) a person with knowledge and experience
in matters relating to the regulatory and
oversight functions of the Authority, as
Chairperson;
(b) one representative each of the ministries
responsible for—
(i) civil aviation; and
(ii) home affairs;
(c) a representative of the Attorney-General;
Cap. 123
Cap. 1
Amendment
of section 4
Amendment
of section 5
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ntative of the Attorney-General;
Cap. 123
Cap. 1
Amendment
of section 4
Amendment
of section 5
[No. 15 of 2026 577Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment)

(d) a representative of the Zambia Air Force;
(e) one person from the private sector with
relevant knowledge and experience in
financial matters;
(f)one person from the private sector with
relevant knowledge and experience in
matters relating to technical civil
aviation; and
(g) two persons from the private sector with
relevant knowledge and experience in
matters relating to this Act.;
(b) insertion of the following new subsection immediately after
subsection (1):
(2) The ministries, institutions and
organisations referred to under subsection (1)(b) to
(d) shall nominate their representatives for
appointment by the Minister.;
(c) deletion of subsection (5) and the substitution therefor of
the following:
(5) A member may, where the member,
except the Chairperson or a person appointed under
subsection (1)(e) to (g) is unable to attend any meeting
of the Board nominate, in writing, another person from
the same ministry, institution or organisation to attend
that meeting and that person shall be considered to
be a member for purposes of that meeting.; and
(d) renumbering of subsections (2), (3), (4) and (5) as
subsections (3), (4), (5) and (6), respectively. 5.

member for purposes of that meeting.; and
(d) renumbering of subsections (2), (3), (4) and (5) as
subsections (3), (4), (5) and (6), respectively. 5.

Section 14 of the principal Act is amended by the deletion
of subsection (2). 6. Section 19 of the principal Act is amended—
(a) by the deletion of subsection (1) and the substitution
therefor of the following:
(1) Subject to this Act, the Authority shall, with the
approval of the Minister, for the purposes of civil
aviation security, be responsible for the
development of national civil aviation security
policies, strategies, programmes and the Zambia
Civil Aviation Requirements in accordance with
the Chicago Convention.;
(b) in subsection (2), by the—
(i) insertion of the following new paragraphs
immediately after paragraph (a):
Amendment
of section 14
Amendment
of section 19
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w paragraphs
immediately after paragraph (a):
Amendment
of section 14
Amendment
of section 19
578 No. 15 of 2026] Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment)

(b) issue an order, a notice, circular or directive
for purposes of implementing immediate
security measures relating to civil
aviation security;
(c) provide oversight for the implementation
of national civil aviation security
policies, strategies, programmes and the
Zambia Civil Aviation Requirements;;
and
(ii) renumbering of paragraphs (b) and (c) as
paragraphs (d) and (e), respectively;
(c) in subsection (3)—
(i) by the insertion of the following new paragraph
immediately after paragraph (b):
(c) a national air transport facilitation
programme;;
(ii) paragraph (d), by the deletion of the word
“screener” and the substitution therefor of the
word “security”; and
(iii) by the renumbering of paragraphs (c) and (d) as
paragraphs (d) and (e), respectively; and
(d) by the deletion of subsection (5) and the substitution
therefor of the following:
(5) The national programmes developed under
subsection (3) shall be in writing, and reviewed
and updated at least once every year. 7. The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following
new section immediately after section 19:
19A.

and updated at least once every year. 7. The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following
new section immediately after section 19:
19A.

The Authority shall, in the regulation of
civil aviation in the Republic, have the following
primary purpose:
(a) ensure the safety of passengers, crew,
ground personnel and the general
public in matters related to civil
aviation; and
(b) ensure that civil aviation security
remains the highest of priorities when
making a decision relating to safety
of passengers, crew, ground
personnel and the general public. Insertion of
section 19A
Primary
purpose
of Authority
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ground
personnel and the general public. Insertion of
section 19A
Primary
purpose
of Authority
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8. Section 20 of the principal Act is amended by the—
(a) deletion of the marginal note and the substitution therefor
of the following:
“Security quality control and risk assessment”; and
(b) deletion of paragraph (a) and the substitution therefor of
the following:
(a) conduct, at least once a year, a risk assessment
to identify civil aviation security needs and
threats;. 9. The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following
new sections immediately after section 33:
33A. (1) The Authority shall, in collaboration with the
Immigration Department, establish an Advance Passenger
Information System for purposes of—
(a) capturing passenger information prior to flight departure
from, or flight arrival into, the Republic;
(b) transmitting and analysing the information referred to under
paragraph (a) by relevant authorities; and
(c) enhancing law enforcement and security. (2) The Advance Passenger Information System referred to
under subsection (1) shall comply with the Zambia Civil Aviation
Requirements relating to Passenger name record facilitation and
relevant internationally recognised standards relating to advance
passenger information.

quirements relating to Passenger name record facilitation and
relevant internationally recognised standards relating to advance
passenger information.

(3) The Authority shall require aircraft operators operating in
the Republic to submit advance passenger information through the
Advance Passenger Information System in the manner and form
as specified in the Zambia Civil Aviation Requirements. 33B. (1) Subject to any other relevant written law, the Authority
shall—
(a) in collaboration with the Immigration Department, develop
capacity to collect, process, protect and use information
relating to a passenger name record for purposes of—
(i) border control and national security;
(ii) risk assessment and analysis; and
Insertion of
sections
33A, 33B
and 33C
Establishment
of Advance
Passenger
Information
System
580 No. 15 of 2026] Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment)
Amendment
of section 20
Passenger
name record

ishment
of Advance
Passenger
Information
System
580 No. 15 of 2026] Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment)
Amendment
of section 20
Passenger
name record

(iii) identifying previously unknown persons who may
be subjected to additional checks;
(b) align and manage information relating to a passenger name
record with the Zambia Civil Aviation Requirements;
(c) identify information relating to a passenger name record
for purposes of protecting civil aviation against an act
of unlawful interference;
(d) set the purposes for which information relating to a
passenger name record may be used by relevant
authorities as the Authority may determine;
(e) disclose information relating to a passenger name record,
as the Authority may determine, to relevant authorities
in the Republic or other ICAO member States when
exercising functions related to the processing of
information relating to a passenger name record including
purposes in respect of border security; and
(f) ensure that information relating to a passenger name record
disclosed under paragraph (e) is protected by a relevant
authority or ICAO member State in the same manner
that the Authority protects that information. 33C.

ed under paragraph (e) is protected by a relevant
authority or ICAO member State in the same manner
that the Authority protects that information. 33C.

The Director-General shall issue an order, a notice, circular,
directive, guidelines, procedures or requirements relating to the
following:
(a) advance passenger information;
(b) the Advance Passenger Information System; and
(c) passenger name record. 10. Section 63 (1) of the principal Act is amended by the—
(a) deletion of paragraph (a) and the substitution therefor of
the following:
(a) enter—
(i) any aircraft, place or premises;
(ii) any land, facility or building at any airport
in the Republic, land outside an airport
occupied for business purposes
connected with an airport or aircraft
operator, facilities of a regulated agent,
known consignor, regulated supplier or
Guidelines
Amendment
of section 63
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f a regulated agent,
known consignor, regulated supplier or
Guidelines
Amendment
of section 63
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known supplier of in-flight supplies and
airport supplies, for purposes of
conducting activities relating to quality
control; or
(iii) an aircraft registered or operating in the
Republic for purposes of conducting
activities relating to quality control;;
(b) deletion of paragraph (e) and the substitution therefor of
the following:
(e) require—
(i) a person to furnish the Authority with
information or documents, records or
other particulars as may be necessary
for the proper administration of this Act;
or
(ii) an aircraft operator, a person managing
an airport, aircraft or occupier of land
outside an airport used for business
purposes connected with the airport, to
provide information relevant to an audit,
inspection, test or investigation
conducted by the Authority or a relevant
authority;
(c) insertion of the following new paragraphs immediately after
paragraph (g):
(h) obtain access to relevant security documentation
and records of an operator;
(i) interview any person for the purposes of assessing
the standards, or implementation, of security
procedures;
(j) inspect and test the effectiveness of security
measures, procedures and performance of
security equipment of an operator;
(k) take into an airport, airside or designated security
restricted area at an airport and use any
equipment, including a radio, camera, an audio
and video recording device, and specially
authorised, restricted or prohibited items
including a replica weapon or simulated
explosive device; and
582 No.

video recording device, and specially
authorised, restricted or prohibited items
including a replica weapon or simulated
explosive device; and
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15 of 2026] Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment)

Insertion of
section 64A
Notices of
deficiencies
and
immediate
rectification
(d) renumbering of paragraphs (h) and (i) as paragraphs (l)
and (m), respectively.
11. The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the
following new section immediately after section 64:
64A. In addition to section 64, an authorised officer conducting
an inspection in accordance with section 63, may—
(a) issue a notice of deficiencies and appropriate
recommendations as the authorised officer may
determine;
(b) enforce corrective actions, including immediate, rapid and
effective rectification of any deficiencies and apply
enforcement measures; and
(c) enforce the Zambia Civil Aviation Requirements and
relevant national programmes referred to under section
19(3).
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