The Citizen (Gauteng)

Tshwane airport closed

IMPROVEMEN­TS: FLIGHTS TEMPORARIL­Y SUSPENDED FOR DEVELOPMEN­T

- Virginia Keppler – virginiak@citizen.co.za

‘We want to create an integrated, citywide public transport system’ – mayor.

All flights between the Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria and Cape Town will be suspended from tomorrow, to allow for the infrastruc­tural developmen­t that is currently underway, in order to make the airport more competitiv­e and boost the city’s economy.

The City of Tshwane and Airlink agreed to this temporary suspension, saying it is not an unusual occurrence when working on the long-term viability of an airport.

Tshwane Mayor Solly Msimanga said Wonderboom is the only metropolit­an-owned commercial airport in South Africa and one of the most important strategic assets, since it is convenient in terms of location for residents, as well as neighbouri­ng provinces such as Limpopo, North West, and even Mpumalanga.

Msimanga said the suspension will temporaril­y have implicatio­ns for regular patrons and on initiative­s implemente­d to contribute to the economic sustainabi­lity.

“We want to create an integrated, city-wide public transport system. As the licence holder of the airport, the municipali­ty is responsibl­e for its welfare and growth. It is for this reason that the process to involve the private sector in the developmen­t and management of the airport is critically important. We need assistance to turn around the airport and maximum return on this,” Msimanga said.

He said the city has completed a comprehens­ive developmen­t programme aimed at maximising the value of this asset.

“To facilitate enhanced infrastruc­ture developmen­t and to maximise the efficiency of operations, the city will soon be seeking solutions from the market to further commercial­ise the airport, wherein a private party will be brought in to operate the airport.”

Wonderboom Airport initially opened in 1937, and is situated about 15km north of the Central Business District (CBD) with a 1 828m long runway.

The airport has close to 200 establishe­d companies operating on its premises, and one of the successful partnershi­ps is that between the airport and Airlink.

The city has a budget allocation for integrated transport infrastruc­ture to the tune of R1.1 billion, split between Wonderboom Airport, A Re Yeng and roads infrastruc­ture, with R34 million ring-fenced for the airport.

“We are confident that this move will give us the space to work diligently to ensure that we make this asset the best it can be for the people of Tshwane and the city’s economy,” Msimanga said.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa