PLANS TO HAVE A SECOND AIRLINE IN UMTHATHA GAINING MOMENTUM
Talk of having a second airline operating in Umthatha in the Province of the Eastern Cape is gaining momentum as the Eastern Cape Department of Transport and the potential airline services are deep in discussions to see this dream coming true. The Mthathat airport is currently operated by Airlink, servicing only the Johannesburg route
In a statement Departmental spokesperson Unathi Binqose said departmental officials led by MEC, Weziwe Tikana-Gxotiwe met with another player in the aviation industry, CemAir on Monday. He said this is an airline with loads of experience in servicing the so-called small airports. According to Binqose the delegation from CemAir was led by the company’s CEO, Mr. Miles van der Molen.
MEC Tikana-Gxotiwe has hailed the meeting with CemAir as ground breaking and a vote of confidence in the economic potential of the province of the Eastern Cape.
“We are quite humbled by the fact that CemAir was actually the one that made the first move, that they also spotted what we have been preaching about Mthatha Airport, as the one beaming with potential. We know that nothing has been finalised as yet, however, we remain optimistic that our engagements will take off and we’ll see CemAir providing much needed aviation services to the people on the Eastern side of our province,” said Tikana-Gxotiwe.
CemAir says the sheer number of the service area of the airport is very encouraging. The airline was quick to point out that the existing Johannesburg route would be easier to operate, however a medium to long term plan would be to also explore the highly demanded Cape Town as well.
