INLSA
The new 70-seater Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 aircraft that is set to be operated by SA Express from Richards Bay Airport to Joburg from March next year.
Marie Strachan Suren Naidoo
THE KwaZulu-Natal Treasury has allocated R11.5 million towards upgrading Richards Bay Airport.
The upgrade is needed for the airport to accommodate bigger SA Express planes which are set to operate between the industrial town and Joburg from March.
Elphas Mbatha, mayor of the uMhlathuze municipality, made the announcement at the council’s executive committee meeting last week.
He applauded Finance MEC Ina Cronje for her department’s quick response to the request for funding.
Cronje recently met key business and political leaders in the area.
The visit included site inspections of the airport, the Port of Richards Bay and the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone.
Richards Bay Airport is the third busiest in KwaZulu-Natal, with daily flights to Joburg.
It handled more than 98 000 passengers last year, mainly businesspeople linked to major industries based in the region including BHP Billiton, Richards Bay Coal Terminal, Foskor and Bell Equipment.
Organised business in the area, including the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomed the airport’s upgrade.
Charmayne Pountney, the Zululand chamber’s executive manager, said it was a “hugely significant” development for Richards Bay, with the KZN Treasury now supporting the region’s growth.
“We are glad the issue of funding the upgrade of Richards Bay Airport is being addressed through the KZN treasury coming to the table.
“The upgrade is essential and will mean the airport will be able to accommodate larger planes and more passengers,” she said.
“What’s important is that the treasury will have a much more active role in the development. We appreciate their support, because it will be more than just funding.
“This includes the treasury signing an agreement with SA Express to operate a more reliable service out of Richards Bay.
“As the chamber, we will also continue lobbying for limited international status for the airport, especially because of demand for business travel between Richards Bay and Mozambique,” added Pountney.
SA Express is phasing out its Dash8 Q300 aircraft. The regional airline is upgrading its fleet with the new Q400 series aircraft, which are currently unable to operate out of Richards Bay Airport due to the limitations of the runway and taxiway infrastructure.
A large portion of the funds allocated by the treasury will allow for an extension of the runway, in addition to addressing maintenance issues and upgrading equipment.
Speaking recently at a Zululand Chamber of Commerce meeting, Erica Bates, station manager for SA Express in Richards Bay, said the airline recognised the airport was an important part of business development in Zululand.
“We are replacing our fleet of 50-seater Dash 8-300 planes that are used on this route with new 70-seater Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 planes,” she said.
“The new fleet will take over from March next year. The flight-time of the new planes would be just under an hour and would enable us to provide a more reliable level of service.
“This is predominantly a business route and with the larger planes the passenger loads per flight will increase.”
The council wants to upgrade the airport to the tune of more than R56 million. Plans also include offices, a car park, aprons and electricity generators.
