R56-million Mthatha Airport upgrade takes off

Work has started on the first
phase of the R56-million
upgrade to the Mthatha
Airport.
Eastern Cape MEC
for Transport, Safety
and Liaison, Ghishma
Barry, told the provincial
legislature recently that the
project was scheduled for
completion in May 2010.
It includes the building
of a temporary relocation
structure, terminal
building upgrade, civil
works and fencing.
A lighting upgrade has
already been completed
and inspected by the South
African Civil Aviation
Authority for the granting of
a night rating.
The main aim is to
improve the capacity,
use and management of
the airport as a “viable
economic asset,” according
to Barry.
Currently the airport
receives Airlink flights from
Johannesburg daily and
other small aircraft that land
during the day.
“We would like to have
an airline between Cape
Town and Mthatha via
Bhisho.
An important goal is
to link Port Elizabeth to
Mthatha via Bhisho with
the service geared for faster
movement between these
three areas,” said Barry.