POLOKWANE – Transport MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya has welcomed the recommencement of commercial flights at the Polokwane Gateway Airport.
The airport was downgraded from category seven to category two by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) due to severe security findings. The flights were subsequently suspended to afford GAAL space to address non-compliance.
All findings were addressed within a period of five months and the airport has been given the green light to resume with its operations from mid-October.
Lerule-Ramakhanya says the absence of commercial flights was felt during the long Heritage weekend where thousands of motorists were delayed due to heavy traffic congestion on the N1 and other busy roads in the province. The resumption of commercial flights will come as a relief to hundreds of businesspeople and holidaymakers who often prefer to fly between Polokwane and OR Tambo International Airport.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the people of Limpopo and South Africa for their patience from April until now. We could have done it sooner but since we were dealing with security issues, I wanted a team to do thorough work so that we do not compromise and endanger the lives of our people. I am happy that the people of Limpopo will once again start flying from mid-October to various destinations of their choice. This will of course revive all the commercial activities at GAAL and also inject the much-needed boost to our economy,” she said.
The MEC is encouraging people of Limpopo and other provinces to seize the opportunity and utilise the flights and reduce road traffic. Airlink has confirmed that it will resume scheduled air services to and from Polokwane from the October 18.
CEO and managing director Rodger Foster in a statement said the route is an important one for business travellers. “The Johannesburg/Polokwane route is important for business travellers and plays a crucial role in supporting Limpopo’s economy. We are looking forward to resuming our regular flights, which we will serve up to three times a day.” He says flights to and from Polokwane are timed to provide travellers with convenient connections with Airlink’s domestic and regional flights through its Johannesburg hub at OR Tambo International Airport.
