Tshwane Deputy Mayor, Eugene Modise , has announced plans to reintroduce commercial flights between Pretoria and Cape Town, departing from Wonderboom National Airport.
Speaking during a recent visit to the airport, Modise said the airport was a key strategic asset to revitalise the local economy. Flights between Pretoria and Cape Town were halted in 2018 due to concerns over profitability.
He said the Tshwane Metro intended to restart discussions with SACAA to renew the licence for scheduled flights between the two cities.
The oppositionThe former Mayor of Pretoria and caucus leader of the DA in Tshwane, Cilliers Brink , said that while a Pretoria-Cape Town route could be beneficial if market demand existed, Wonderboom Airport was currently not equipped to handle such operations. He said a private company would need to get on board to facilitate the necessary airport upgrades.
He added that he had doubts the route could provide a real economic boost for the city given the amount of work that would need to be done to make the airport safe and viable.