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.