Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, Roads and Public Works, Thandiswa Marawu officially handed over the Mthatha Airport Terminal Building site to the newly appointed contractors on Thursday, 27 October 2011.
MEC Marawu handed over the site to TBP Construction and Civils who have been awarded the R55 million tender to upgrade the Airport’s Terminal Building.
The upgrade is expected to improve the airport’s capacity as the department continues to lobby more airlines to service the route between Mthatha and Johannesburg as there are currently two daily flights by Airlink on this route.
Expected to take 10 months to complete, the project forms part of the province's Blue Skyway aviation strategy, which aims to improve the potential of the Bhisho and Mthatha airports, as well as to bring new life to rural airstrips within the province.
“The aim of the department is to see an airline that will operate between Cape Town and Mthatha, via Port Elizabeth and Bhisho, including the new service by South African National Taxi Council Airline as the service is geared towards faster movement between these areas and ensuring the airports are economically active”, said MEC Marawu
MEC Marawu further said flights between these strategic economic centres become necessary to facilitate this movement as such a service will be cost effective because people will be able to save on fuel and accommodation.
TBP Building and Civils Commercial Director Vanil Sookhlal said the project would bring about job opportunities for people from surrounding areas.
MEC Marawu hands over Mthatha Airport Site
Province
