PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Since the Plettenberg Bay Airport regained its certification to handle commercial flights last month, activities seem to be becoming "bigger and better", quite literally.
Not only has the upgrade allowed for larger aircraft to land at the airport, but a new arrangement between CemAir and SAA will allow for more convenience and linked destinations to and from the coastal resort.
The airport was downgraded by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) earlier this year, resulting in the suspension of all commercial flights and stopping CemAir flights between Plett and major city centres.
The downgrade was due to the ongoing failure of the airport to address outstanding issues from Sacaa inspections.
After the downgrade, CemAir and the Bitou Municipality agreed to work together and the airport's former status was restored last month. Subsequently flights resumed.
Last week it was announced that CemAir had received approval from Sacaa to fly a 78-seater Dash 8-400 to Plettenberg Bay. This will not only shorten the flying time to Johannesburg, but also add more capacity. The introduction of the bigger airplane was partly thanks to the upgrading of fire services at the airport. The launch date is expected to be announced soon.
SAA arrangement
In another positive turn of events, South African Airways (SAA) has signed a cooperation agreement with CemAir that extends the route network reach.
SAA's interim chief executive Thomas Kgokolo said the benefit for the customer is that it lowers the cost through booking one ticket instead of two separate tickets. '
'Fares will be issued on the one itinerary and ticket, guaranteeing connectivity to more than one destination. It also allows passengers to through check-in their baggage between connecting flights of the two carriers without going through an entire check-in again."
He said that the interline arrangement enables flight scheduling connection and flexibility for time-sensitive passengers and adds more destinations to the route network for both airlines.
The additional routes currently not serviced by SAA include Luanda, Durban, Hoedspruit, George, Kimberley, Pettenberg Bay, Margate, Sishen and Gqeberha, according to Kgokolo.
CemAir chief executive Miles van der Molen said they were excited to partner with SAA, one of the oldest airlines on the continent.
"Our interline partnership will provide our customers with savings and convenience," he said. "As we continue our expansion during the Covid period, we realise now more than ever that partnerships are key to our success and working with SAA could not have come at a better time."
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