PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - A new airport terminal that runs parallel and closer to Robberg Road is being considered as part of a revamp of Plettenberg Bay Airport, contained in a master plan created by designated operators rsa.Aero.
The master plan was presented to Bitou Municipality last week and also provides for the runway at the airport to be extended, to accommodate Boeing 737 aircraft, as part of an upgrade that will recognise it as an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Category 6 facility.
The aim of the ambitious master plan is to turn Plett's airport into a regionally integrated airport.
The upgrade could see more competition being introduced on the Plett route and could boost the town's tourism potential.
Plettenberg Bay Airport currently processes about 30 000 passengers a year and, according to rsa.Aero, this is expected to grow to an estimated 150 000 passengers by 2050 if the airport is upgraded to industry standards.
A zone-based development approach has been adopted - the master plan creates seven different zones to ensure a maximised precinct site over time.
These zones are: the new terminal precinct, a temporary terminal, private and recreational aviation precinct, corporate aviation and logistics precinct, solar farm phase one and two, and wastewater treatment and attenuation dam.
Timelines for development within each zone will be driven by demand and a positive business case for each opportunity.
The tender for the airport was awarded to rsa.Aero by Bitou Municipality in February and has the potential value of over R116m (rental over a period of 30 years - R111m - plus the purchase of airport business of R4,95m), according to an item in the latest council agenda.
rsa.Aero said strategic considerations in the plan include looking at the airport as an asset, its existing service partnerships, consultation and sign-off that include land requirements, and efficient planning approvals and rezoning.
The new operators have already appointed Esmaralda Barnes, a seasoned expert in running an airport with 32 years experience in aviation, as airport manager. rsa.Aero officially takes over the control of Plettenberg Bay Airport on 1 July.
"Dependencies for unlocking the master plan include EIA approvals, among others. It will be important to work closely with the Bitou teams to streamline the approval processes," rsa.Aero said in its presentation.
"Sustainability and the green agenda is high on the agenda with consideration for a solar farm and water harvesting. Commercialisation of the airport site is key – broader than only aviation activities."
Plans of the proposed newly revamped Plett Airport.
Aviation support services such as maintenance, fuelling services, pilot training, new-generation developments like drones, aviation tech businesses and e-commerce and logistics opportunities, are highlighted in the master plan.
"In the short term (five years), the current facilities need to be maintained and minor upgrades effected. This process and engagements with local architects is already in process. To unlock the additional scheduled traffic, we have planned for the airport to be upgraded to a Category 6 facility. This will require significant additional Capex (capital expenditure) on infrastructure and in particular, firefighting capacitation," said rsa.Aero.
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