Mthatha may soon get more airlines operating to other major towns if the provincial transport department is successful in its bid to attract other airlines to the city.
Following the R700-million investment on the terminal building and runway, the Mthatha Airport and surrounding area are now the new focus for business development in the province.
The department advertised a bid notice in the media recently inviting licensed airlines to propose new routes from Mthatha.
Currently, Airlink is the only airline operating at the airport and only offers two flights per day between Mthatha and Johannesburg.
Spokesman Ncedo Kumbaca said airlines had already shown interest in the newly-built airport.
“There is great interest. Even when the premier visited the airport recently, we had representatives from different airlines such as FlySafair. One of the airlines said they would do a feasibility study to find out which routes created more interest from the people of Mthatha.”
Kumbaca said the department was looking at flights between Mthatha and Durban, Mthatha and Cape Town and one that flew to Port Elizabeth via Bhisho Airport.
“After the department invested about R700-million, we are now ready. People have been saying it is too expensive to fly from Mthatha because there is no competition.”
Recently, chairman of the Mthatha Airport Development Committee Somadoda Fikeni said he, together with other influential people from Mthatha, would approach CEOs of the different airlines to convince them to operate from Mthatha.
He said the airport would pave the way for more investment and save government thousands of rands in subsistence and travel.
The department has also advertised a notice inviting service providers to submit expression of interest for the management of the airport. Currently the airport is being run by the department.
“The department’s objective is to appoint a service provider who can manage the Mthatha Airport on behalf of the department. We want to improve our internal capacity to attract more investment and run the airport professionally,” the notice read.
KSD spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said: “The executive mayor is pleased with the progress and hopes new routes will be introduced. This will save KSD money and time.
“When our political heads and officials go on official business to some of the major towns, they are forced to go to East London to catch their flights. If more flights are introduced, people will be able to fly straight to Mthatha, saving the municipality a lot of money.”
He added: “The executive mayor is very much aware of the economic benefits that will come with the introduction of new routes to the airport. That is why she wants to make sure the municipality is always ready to assist with things such as fire engines to ensure the smooth running of the airport.” — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
Mthatha Airport ready to expand flight routes
Following the R700-million investment on the terminal building and runway, the Mthatha Airport and surrounding area are now the new focus for business development in the province.
The department advertised a bid notice in the media recently inviting licensed airlines to propose new routes from Mthatha.
Currently, Airlink is the only airline operating at the airport and only offers two flights per day between Mthatha and Johannesburg.
Spokesman Ncedo Kumbaca said airlines had already shown interest in the newly-built airport.
“There is great interest. Even when the premier visited the airport recently, we had representatives from different airlines such as FlySafair. One of the airlines said they would do a feasibility study to find out which routes created more interest from the people of Mthatha.”
Kumbaca said the department was looking at flights between Mthatha and Durban, Mthatha and Cape Town and one that flew to Port Elizabeth via Bhisho Airport.
“After the department invested about R700-million, we are now ready. People have been saying it is too expensive to fly from Mthatha because there is no competition.”
Recently, chairman of the Mthatha Airport Development Committee Somadoda Fikeni said he, together with other influential people from Mthatha, would approach CEOs of the different airlines to convince them to operate from Mthatha.
He said the airport would pave the way for more investment and save government thousands of rands in subsistence and travel.
The department has also advertised a notice inviting service providers to submit expression of interest for the management of the airport. Currently the airport is being run by the department.
“The department’s objective is to appoint a service provider who can manage the Mthatha Airport on behalf of the department. We want to improve our internal capacity to attract more investment and run the airport professionally,” the notice read.
KSD spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said: “The executive mayor is pleased with the progress and hopes new routes will be introduced. This will save KSD money and time.
“When our political heads and officials go on official business to some of the major towns, they are forced to go to East London to catch their flights. If more flights are introduced, people will be able to fly straight to Mthatha, saving the municipality a lot of money.”
He added: “The executive mayor is very much aware of the economic benefits that will come with the introduction of new routes to the airport. That is why she wants to make sure the municipality is always ready to assist with things such as fire engines to ensure the smooth running of the airport.” — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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