Eastern Cape upgrades all airports except PE

While plans for
extending the runway
of the Port Elizabeth
“international” airport
remain grounded, the
Eastern Cape continues
to invest millions in less
busy airports.
This, despite lobbying
from the Nelson Mandela
Bay Business Chamber
and the logistic industry.
“We continue to engage
Acsa on the question of
the airport,” confirms
chamber operations
director Samantha
Venter.
The latest Eastern
Cape airport to get a
makeover is a R55-
million upgrade to the
Mthatha airport, which
currently handles two
flights a day.
Bhisho airport at
Bulembu was upgraded
at a cost of R64 million
in 2008, and is currently
used by Port Alfredbased
43 Air School for
advanced training.
Over R100 million
was spent on upgrading
the East London airport,
with a new terminal
handed over in 2010.
Port Elizabeth, which
is home to a Fifa World
Cup stadium, received
a R68-million facelift
for 2010.
Government remains
uncommitted to
extending the runway,
which would open up the
airport for international
freighters – at present
most of Port Elizabeth’s
“airfreight” travels by
road to and from OR
Tambo, and international
travellers have to catch a
connecting flight.