Pietermaritzburg Airport

[GregPz]

Think it's time that Pietermaritzburg Airport got it's own thread as expansion is immenent for "SA's fastest growing airport". Tender Applications for the redevelopment of the Departures section have been advertised.

And it's started making money...

PIETERMARITZBURG AIRPORT HEADING INTO THE BLACK


Impressive passenger numbers portent well for the Pietermaritzburg Airport and are likely to impact positively on the finances of the airport. This is the word from KZN Treasury’s Clive Coetzee who said that arrivals and departures at the airport are up 63.18% for the year to date over the corresponding period last year, while flight diversions were down by 87.50% over the same period. Coetzee expects the finances of the airport to significantly improve, saying they “should move into the black in the next year or two”. In this regard, a surplus of ZAR46 000 is projected in the 2012/13 financial year, a far cry from the pattern of deficits over the preceding years - ZAR243 000 in 2011/12, ZAR807 000 in 2010/11 and ZAR2.9 million in 2009/10.

[dysan1]

Great to hear! Really is turning around. Likelihood of other routes from it?

[GregPz]

Just this one to Ulundi at the moment...

ULUNDI SET TO FLY
Federal Air announced as the preferred airline of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Airport

Business people and government officials who currently travel by road between the cities of Ulundi and Pietermaritzburg will now be able to fly there.
Zululand District Municipality announced Federal Air as the preferred airline for the new route at a launch event in Ulundi on Friday, 14th October 2011. Daily scheduled flights between Ulundi and Pietermaritzburg are due to commence early next year. At the same event, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Finance, Ms Ina Cronje announced the rollout of a 30 Million infrastructural grant to transform the Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Airport into a first world facility. This follows her inspection of the airport in April this year and her commitment to ensure that the regional airport functions to its full potential and helps grow the provincial economy.

The airport has been under-utilized since the termination of government subsidised flights in 2003. It is located 1km south west of Ulundi, one of the fastest growing population centres in South Africa. The planned upgrades to the airport will open up new opportunities for business, tourism and inter-governmental travel.

The Zululand District Mayor, Councillor Zanele KaMagwaza-Msibi said:
¡§This partnership between our district and provincial government will make a dramatic change in the economic landscape and bring real change to our people. For us, the airport is critical for growth and that is why we have invested money and resources in getting the airport operational again. We have one million people living here but without an airport, we will remain a backwater. Our research shows that thirty thousand people from Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg are driving through Ulundi each month. But our roads make travel difficult and no matter what tourism and industry we have in Zululand District, without a sophisticated transport system people won¡¦t come here because it takes too much time and too much money.
Passenger flights mean that people will bring money and resources into our district every day and this will make a huge impact on the local economy.¡¨

The Federal Air flight will take between 35 to 40 minutes. The Zululand District has opted to initially use a 12 seater caravan for the daily flights and anticipates that the demand will require a twenty seater plane within months of starting operations. While the immediate need is from business and government passengers, the district are optimistic about the tourism spin offs. Zululand is the only district in the province of KwaZulu-Natal that is home to the King and it is the very heart of authentic Zulu Culture. The Ulundi airport¡¦s close proximity to the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, the Emakhosini Opathe Heritage Park, and important Zulu cultural-historic attractions make it an ideal entry and exit point for travellers on a limited time schedule.
KaMagwaza-Msibi said that the funds from Provincial government would be used to modernise the infrastructure and equipment at the airport. Upgrades which will start in November 2011 include recovering the runway, remodelling the terminal building, and updating of rescue and fire equipment.

She said: ¡§We want our passengers to know that we have the equipment, the personnel and the training to make our airport on par with standards in the international aviation community.¡¨
Potential providers of commercial services to the airport will be able to submit expressions of interest and
tenders on a variety of commercial activities at the airport. There is also land, office and hangar space
available for lease. These will be advertised and posted on the district website www.zululand.org.za

About Federal Air:
Federal Air has over 20 years of experience in aviation across Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. With the
largest and most flexible private air charter fleet in Southern Africa; taking guests to the most beautiful and
remote parts of Africa is their specialty. Federal Air offers guests a unique and seamless travel experience;
where every guest deserves first class treatment. Partnering to build new destinations and provide access to
areas not currently serviced by the aviation community is part of Federal Air¡¦s core expertise. The range of
specialist Aviation Services offered are:
„h Air Shuttle Services to Premium Safari Destinations;
„h Scheduled Services to remote destinations; and
„h Executive Charter and Contract Services.

For more information and 24-hour online bookings visit www.fedair.com, Email info@fedair.com or call +27
(0) 11 395 9000.

[GregPz]

PMB airport upgrade underway

16 November 2011 - 13:41
By Shaun Ryan

A long-term, multiphase plan is underway to give the Pietermaritzburg Airport a strategic facelift.



Clive Coetzee of the KZN provincial treasury says the airport will be transformed considerably over the next 30 years, including the proposed lengthening of the runway.

The strip has already been resurfaced with a glass grid that is expected to improve its durability.

Coetzee's been speaking to Newswatch following a presentation to stakeholders on the status of the airport upgrade.

He says the KZN government is firmly behind the initiative, which is expected to have a positive effect on business in the capital.

"A city like Pietermaritzburg needs a fully functioning airport. If you look at most of the successful cities in the world, one of the key assets that any successful city has is a modern, efficient, effective airport. And this would be exactly the same for Pietermaritzburg."

The province has already made R40-million available to the project, and Coetzee says private enterprises have already lined up to assist financially.


source: ecr.co.za

[GregPz]

Federal Air flying daily between Ulundi and Pietermaritzburg
26 Mon, Mar 2012

Federal Air has added yet another route to its Shuttle Services. Flights between Pietermaritzburg’s Oribi Airport and Ulundi’s Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Airport will commence on March 28.

After calls from the Zululand District Municipality for a preferred airline, strong interest was shown by various airlines. Following an intense three-way bidding process, Federal Air emerged as the preferred airline for the airport in October 2011.

Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Airport has recently undergone multimillion Rand civil and procedural upgrades which have brought the airport back to the required aviation standards in safety and facilities. These renovations have included relaying of the main runway, installation of navigational instruments, upgrading of fire and rescue equipment and refurbishing of the terminal building and arrivals lounge.

Upgrades have also included the latest in navigational instrumentation, equipping the airport to accommodate flights in all weather conditions. The airport is now a domestic gateway into Zululand and can accommodate B737 aircraft.

The existing road infrastructure within Ulundi is very limited, and according to research in previous years, more than 30 000 people and 6 000 government cars use the road into and out of Ulundi each month. This, coupled with the ever-rising costs of fuel and excessive travel time to drive from Ulundi to Pietermaritzburg, makes air travel the fastest and most efficient option for commuters.

Extensive research has been done by the Zululand District and Federal Air in order to ensure that the demands of passengers needing the flight service are met. This also included a series of successful trial flights undertaken last year, which were very well received.

According to Troy Reiser, Managing Director of Federal Air: “We are excited to extend our shuttle service offering to include the Ulundi – Pietermaritzburg route. We foresee that the upgraded Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Airport will provide the launch pad for an increase in development, travel and tourism into the region. It is a vital initiative and we are committed to meet the demands of travellers to and from the region, with a travel experience that is seamless.”

Four flights daily from Monday to Friday will be available; and depending on the demand on the route, this may also include stops at Durban’s Virginia Airport in the future.
I think it's actually 2x daily

http://www.tourismupdate.co.za/NewsD...x?newsId=63037

[GregPz]

PIETERMARITZBURG AIRPORT SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS

The Pietermaritzburg Airport is well and truly on its way to play a larger role in the province’s economy. Figures released by KZN Treasury economist Clive Coetzee paint a highly promising picture of an increasingly popular airport serving the interior of the province. According to Coetzee, total passenger numbers for the two months of 2012 are up 13%, while the old bugbear of diversions to King Shaka International are down by almost 90%. Equally encouraging is the concomitant growth in revenue from October 2011 to January 2012 that is up 34.9% year-on-year, while total costs over the same period retreated by 2.6% year-on-year. “We’re very happy that our decision to support the Pietermaritzburg Airport has been vindicated,” said Coetzee. “The airport is definitely on a growth path,” he said

http://www.ebizblitz.co.za/jit_news/...arch_2012.html

[dysan1]

good to hear!

[Awesome.e]

any photos of the airport?

[twr1]

taken from the pmb airshow 2012

[kevinpham1303]

A long-term, multiphase plan is underway to give the Pietermaritzburg Airport a strategic facelift.



Clive Coetzee of the KZN provincial treasury says the airport will be transformed considerably over the next 30 years, including the proposed lengthening of the runway.

The strip has already been resurfaced with a glass grid that is expected to improve its durability.

Coetzee's been speaking to Newswatch following a presentation to stakeholders on the status of the airport upgrade.

He says the KZN government is firmly behind the initiative, which is expected to have a positive effect on business in the capital.

"A city like Pietermaritzburg needs a fully functioning airport. If you look at most of the successful cities in the world, one of the key assets that any successful city has is a modern, efficient, effective airport. And this would be exactly the same for Pietermaritzburg."

The province has already made R40-million available to the project, and Coetzee says private enterprises have already lined up to assist financially.
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