Business and leisure tourists from the City of Roses, Bloemfontein, in the Free State province will welcome the resumption of regular twice weekly flights to and from Port Elizabeth, the Friendly City, by Airlink in September.
Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) has welcomed the reintroduction of flights between Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein as a space for growing the domestic tourism market from that region.
“One of Nelson Mandela Bay’s niche domestic tourism markets is the Free State province,” said Mandlakazi Skefie, NMBT chief executive. “We have huge support from this market, particularly over the holiday seasons. The resumption of flights between Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein will mean increased business tourism as well as families jetting in for work or weekends.”
Airlink will resume flights between Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein on September 5 operated by 29-seater Jetstream 41′s.
The flight schedule initially offers flights twice a week, departing Mondays and Thursdays, providing the community and business travellers in the Eastern Cape and Free State the convenience of a direct flight between these commercial centres. Airlink has reintroduced the service in response to traveller requests.
“We applaud Airlink for acknowledging the need for this flight service and will support their route by cross-marketing and promoting it to the Free State target market,” added Skefile. “Strategically, this comes as we look forward to Tourism Month in September. We will now definately look into creating some kind of promotion in conjunction with Airlink over this month for the Free State tourists.”
Airlink offers travellers the opportunity to earn Voyager Miles and enjoy seamless interline connections with SAA and its partner flights around the world. Travellers also have the freedom to book all flights online.
Port Elizabeth to Bloemfontein flights will depart Mondays and Thursdays from Port Elizabeth at 9:15am, arriving in Bloemfontein at 10:45am. The return service will depart from Bloemfontein at 12:10pm, arriving in Port Elizabeth at 1:45pm.
