New wings for Capital City
Almost exactly two years ago I was at this same airport to unveil the first upgrade to one of the most important economic engines of the 21st century: the local airport. We had to give KwaZulu-Natal’s capital city new wings.
I was one of the people who gave up on using the Pietermaritzburg Airport. I could no longer risk missing important meetings because the aeroplane could not land in or take off from Pietermaritzburg due to bad weather.
How we longed to use our local airport! The previous Durban International Airport was only 85km from Pietermaritzburg CBD whereas the new KSIA is now approximately 105km, 20km further from Pietermaritzburg, with much heavier traffic.
Time is money: travelling between KSIA and Pietermaritzburg, especially at peak times, is time consuming and costly. Time spent at the Airport: booking in and waiting times are much shorter at small airports. But since 2011 much water has flown under the bridge. What a pleasure to depart and land on home ground!
A lot of hard work and sweat from very dedicated people has made Pietermaritzburg.
Airport an airport to be proud of today:
Some statistics:
- Passenger numbers have nearly doubled from a monthly average of about 5 000 in 2009 to about 9 200 per month.
- We have had a record number of 10 400 passengers in October 2013.
- The Net Revenue has more than doubled from about R2.7 million in 2009 to R5.5 million this year.
- The Cash Flow has increased from a deficit of R3 million in 2009 to surplus of R1 million this year.
- After three years of cumulative losses, the cumulative deficit was completely wiped out in September 2013. We now have a financially viable airport.
Future prospects:
Today we are celebrating the completion of the R18 million upgrade of the terminal building and apron. While the full R40 million injected in the project has now been expended, it is not the end yet:
- The Durban University of Technology has put a proposal on the table to develop an aviation academy at the PMB airport.
- Also received: a proposal for the establishment of an Innovation and Technology Hub to be built around an aviation cluster at the airport - supported by the National Department of Science and Technology and Technology Innovation Agency.
Need to take it further:
- Need to make the Academy and Innovation and Techno Hub proposals a reality and to attract aviation businesses and related businesses to the airport.
- Need to strengthen the airport committee.
- Need for a hanger development plan: huge demand for hangers and hanger space.
- Need for marketing of airport beyond the district and municipal boundaries.
- Need for the establishment of an airport entity.
Not only Pietermaritzburg
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury supports initiatives and developments at 11 regional airports. A total of R81 million has been made available in direct funding, while the infrastructure support (“crack”) team is also available to assist municipalities with their development initiatives at the respective airports.
Some highlights:
- Ulundi Airport – Task team support is still provided in terms of the air route marketing and planning of adjacent developments R250k. Full R30m expended. Route between Ulundi and OR Tambo has commenced and is doing very well.
Estimated saving to Government of about R2m over the past 17 months because of flying and not driving.
- Richards Bay Airport – Full R11.5 million expended. Task team supporting the local municipality in their deliberations about the airport.
- Margate Airport –Task team support is provided in terms of the air route marketing and airport management. Full R2.5 million expended. Scheduled Service has commenced on 1 November.
- Mkuze Airport – Crack Team are supporting the District Municipality in developing the airport and the route.
More recent developments:
- SA Airlink to start flying to and from Richards Bay (OR Tambo) this month.
- Fed Air flying between OR Tambo and Ulundi has started and doing very well.
- Comair has start flying to and from Margate (OR Tambo) from 1 November 2013.
- The R10.5 million upgrade of the Mkuze airport (fence, new terminal building etc. should start in January 2014 to be ready for the Mkuze air show (June 2014).
- Newcastle Municipality has committed to work with the Crack Team to work on some projects at the airport, including Freedom Air, to operate flights to and from Newcastle and OR Tambo.
- Task team providing advice and technical support to both the Dundee and Vryheid regional airports.
- Task team in discussions with the EThekwini municipality to support the Virginia airport developments.
- Second airline - SA Express – has started flying to and from PMB (OR Tambo).
Why the investment in regional airports?
Passenger numbers across the globe is expected to double by 2020 and a burst of activity in airport expansions is experienced around the world. Approximately 4.5 million people work on airport sites globally and airports can play a strategic role in the economic development of a local community. In fact there is a new saying that “if it is not happening, they are nowhere near an airport.”
We are now certainly near a functioning and viable airport, i.e. the Pietermaritzburg Airport. The upgrading of the Airport, coupled with the restoration of confidence of previous customers will add to the economic development and growth of Pietermaritzburg.
We congratulate the Msunduzi Municipality and all stakeholders with this endeavour. You have done us proud.
Let us now take it to new heights! Pardon the pun, but the sky is our limit! And please – we need a five star hotel in Pietermaritzburg.
