MBABANE – Six years after its April 2014 opening, Eswatini’s King Mswati III (KM3) Airport has found an airline other than Eswatini Airlink to make use of the facility. However, ordinar y passengers will not be able to purchase tickets. Only those with the means to lease a luxury private aircraft will be able to f ly Royal Jet, the UAE-based charter air service known for f lying the elite from the Middle East emirate to European destinations. Eswatini will be used as the charter company’s African hub on a one-year provisional basis. Intra-Africa f lights have already begun from KM3 airport.“The company aircraft is already being booked, and is currently in Ethiopia. It’s booked on an ad hoc basis. Bookings can be made through us (Eswatini National Airways Corporation – R en a c),” President Dhlamini, CEO of Renac, told F T W.At a press conference at K M3 airport announcing a deal between Renac and Royal Jet, Mandeni Mazibuko, chairman of Renac, said, “Renac is partnering with Royal Jet, whose bulk of business activity is executive air charter services, aviation consultancy services, aircraft management and aircraft maintenance. The next phase will involve vigorous marketing of (Royal Jet) aircraft and the KM3 International Airport.” The sole regular passenger service available into and out of Eswatini, Eswatini Airlink (formerly Swaziland Airlink), f lies one route, to and from Johannesburg.
INSERT: The team from Royal Jet will bring along their engineers who will impart knowledge and skills to local engineers.– President Dhlamini