A MEMORANDUM of understanding to enhance the air service connectivity between national gateways and the city of Nelson Mandela Bay through the Port Elizabeth International Airport was recently signed by the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), together with key stakeholders, including Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism.
NMBM Executive Mayor Athol Trollip, together with Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism CEO Mandlakazi Skefile and ACSA group executive of business development Charles Shilowa were among the key officials present at the signing. “Nelson Mandela Bay is a growing metropole for trade and tourism and the activities around these are facilitated through the Port Elizabeth International Airport.
“This plan between the airport and the city will further support the economic growth of the region and the airlift project is one of the key pillars to enable the seamless movement of people, goods, and services linking with both water and air transport,” said Trollip.
The Port Elizabeth International Airport is optimally positioned as a city airport which is an important gateway to the tourism market, easily accessed by local businesses and residences.
It is also situated favourably within only 25km from the industrial cluster of the Coega Industrial Development Zone, which is demarcated as one of the country’s largest special economic zones.
According to the MMC for Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture, Councillor Andrew Whitfield, the air access project will take a three-phase approach.
Phase one will include the scope of key new and existing routes at national, regional and intercontinental level to enhance trade and tourism.
The second phase will involve the analysis of potential markets, the identification of potential airline partners, research and development for the airlift strategy and a three-year implementation plan for the establishment of new routes linking Port Elizabeth International Airport.
The third phase will require the implementation of the identified route opportunities and development of incentive schemes.
“The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism, as critical and key stakeholders to this agreement, will play an integral and pivotal role in the implementation of phases two and three of the air lift strategy.
“We also hope to have more and direct private sector participation in the programme,” added Whitfield.
“The parties have all recognised the need for a co-ordinated approach when implementing the air lift strategy.
“They have, therefore, committed themselves to signing the MOU to ensure the strategy is fully realised,” he said.
