Ghishma Barry, the Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison officially announced that the first phase of Mthatha Airport upgrade has commenced.
Barry was addressing the provincial legislature during the debate of the annual report submitted by the Department of Roads and Transport
Ghishma Barry, the Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison officially announced that the first phase of Mthatha Airport upgrade has commenced.
Barry was addressing the provincial legislature during the debate of the annual report submitted by the Department of Roads and Transport
Three Mthatha-based construction companies- Tikanedywili Construction and Makole Bisness Enterprise, Lodumo/Alamo Project Joint Venture and Intellec Construction- got to work a few weeks ago and are expected to complete the project in May 2010.
The project costs R56-million and includes the building of a temporary relocation structure, upgrading the terminal building, civil works and fencing.
The main aim is to improve the capacity, use and management of the airport as a viable economic asset. The upgrade is one of the projects that has been earmarked to contribute positively to tourism in the region and during the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Currently the airport receives Air Link flights from Johannesburg daily and other small aircraft throughout the day. The new facilities will include an airstrip that will be fitted with lights to accommodate late flights. The lighting upgrade has been completed and inspected by the South African Civil Aviation Authority and the building itself will boast a spectacular roof which will bring life to the airport.
Discussions with other sectoral stakeholders have indicated that this upgrade will provide assistance in the promotion of tourism in the eastern half of the Province. “We would like to have an airline between Cape Town and Mthatha via Bhisho," said Barry.
"An important goal is to link Port Elizabeth to Mthatha via Bhisho with the service geared for faster movement between these three areas,” she concluded.
