Plettenberg Bay Airport has been closed indefinitely after the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) issued a notice to Bitou Municipality this week, suspending its airport licence with immediate effect.
As a result, the airport is effectively shut down.
Garden Route Aero (GRA), a subsidiary of rsa.AREO, which manages Winelands Airport in Cape Town, was due to take over operations at the airport from Bitou Municipality in July.
However, the SACAA will issue the new licence to GRA only once historic issues and maintenance backlogs on the runway have been addressed by the municipality.
In September 2021, the airport was downgraded to category 2, falling below SACAA's minimum standard for scheduled air services.
With CemAir's assistance, the airport regained Category 4 status by November 2021, allowing two-hour flights between Johannesburg and Plettenberg Bay to resume.
GRA has offered to address the historic issues and maintenance backlogs on Bitou Municipality’s behalf through a transitional funding agreement and is currently awaiting a decision. "We are eager for the licence to be issued to GRA. We see the airport as an extension of the town and an important asset to the Garden Route region," said Deidre Davids, spokesperson for GRA.
The confusion around the future of the airport began on July 2, when CemAir, the only airline offering commercial services to and from Plettenberg Bay Airport, was informed of an imminent closure the next day.
On July 7, Bitou Municipality announced the airport would close from July 31. This was amended again on July 9, stating no closure dates had been confirmed and a plan was in progress.
CemAir will accommodate their passengers via George Airport.
Agents and passengers are requested to contact the airline directly for updates on flight information.
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