Joy as second airliner lands in Mthatha
“Comfortable”, “top notch” and “perfect” were some of the superlatives used to describe the first SAA Express flight from Johannesburg to the Mthatha Airport on Monday afternoon.
Passengers who emerged from the plane after it touched down on the runway around 3.45pm were excited.
One of those was Ongezwa Gwaza who was headed for Qumbu.
"Their service was just top notch. I normally use my my car but this time around I decided to fly."
Walter Sisulu University employee Sibusiso Nomatshila described it as “perfect”.
He said some in his group had had opted for SA Airlink, but he had decided to use SA Express because of the cheap prices.
"The prices always informs how you travel. I paid R4,400 return flight while the other group paid around R6,930."
Last week Eastern Cape transport MEC Weziwe Tikana announced that SA Express would on Monday, become the second airliner to operate the Mthatha-Johannesburg route, after SA Airlink.
Anticipation ran high as airport personnel and provincial transport officials waited for the landing.When it finally did, passengers were greeted with loud cheers by the crowd which included OR Tambo district mayor Nomakhosazana Meth.
Meth said the new flight would be a boost for the area’s economy which was seeing the .
establishment of an agri park and a special economic zone.
Meth also bragged about the untapped potential of tourism in the district, which is the birthplace of Nelson Mandela saying the shortage of flights was hindering their arrival.
OR Tambo District Chamber of Business secretary Andile Nontso hoped the new flights would help in sending tender documents to Pretoria.
journalist Zimkhitha Manqinana,who boarded the SA Express plane to Johannesburg on Monday, revealed that she had previously driven to East London for cheaper flights in the past.
"Imagine the wear and tear on your car. I am happy with this one [SA Express] because its easy and cheaper."
Provincial transport head of department Irene Mpolweni said they would give the airliner all the support it needed.
SA Express chief executive officer Siza Mzimela said she was impressed by the warm welcome they had been given.
She said that during the second week of January, the airliner would have two daily flights between Mthatha and Johannesburg...
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