KNP: Skukuza airport to reopen for commercial flights

[Flutterby]

Media Release: SANParks announces successful operator for Skukuza Airport

Date: 22nd August 2013

The South African National Parks (SANParks) has today announced the appointment of a preferred operator for the Skukuza Airport in the iconic Kruger National Park.

SANParks, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. David Mabunda said the successful bid was submitted by the Skukuza Airport Management Company (Pty) Ltd jointly owned by Lion Sands, Federal Air and Airlink. The consortium will sign a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with SANParks for a period of ten years.

The announcement follows a lengthy process of technical evaluation and adjudication of bids submitted in response to a Request for Proposals issued in April 2013.

According to Dr. Mabunda this development will benefit SANParks’ long haul clients and those from major centers who will no longer be subjected to a two hour drive from Nelspruit to the Kruger National Park. “We are reliving a tradition that started in 1959 to enhance visitor convenience and experience and we are looking forward to working with our new partners in taking the business of managing national parks assets to another level.”

In reacting to the announcement, Robert More, Lion Sands Co-founder and CEO said it is an absolute privilege to be involved in this venture. “Our lodges are all in close proximity to Skukuza and our customers will benefit significantly from re-opening the Skukuza airport to scheduled air services”.

Carl Trieloff, Commercial Director of Special Projects at Fed Air added, “We are proud to be part of the consortium behind the winning bid. We are looking forward to providing visitors the opportunity to experience a high quality affordable bushveld experience”.

Rodger Foster, Airlink’s CEO responded by saying his company is delighted to be in the consortium and looking forward to delivering scheduled air services to Skukuza, and access to all lodges within the Skukuza precinct. This is going to make travelling to the Kruger National Park simpler and affordable.

Skukuza Airport Management Company will be given access to the Skukuza airport facility from 1 September 2013, in order to commence with the alterations and improvements essential to bringing the airport to the international standard, which will include rehabilitation of the runway.

It is envisaged that the airport upgrades should be substantially completed by 1 November 2013 to achieve the necessary licensing by the SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). It is anticipated that the licensing process will be completed before the first quarter of 2014 with scheduled flights set to commence in March 2014.

In conclusion, Dr. Mabunda said, SANParks was highly impressed with the successful bidder’s operational plan for the airport and its associated air services. “This included a comprehensive environmental management plan to limit the noise impact of operations overarching minimized environmental impact philosophy.”

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communications
Tel: 012 426 5065

Enquiries:
Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli
SANParks General Manager: PR, Media and Stakeholder Relations
Tel: 012 426 5203 cell: 073 373 4999
Email: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org

or

Annemi van Jaarsveld
SANParks General Manager: Business Development
Tel:012 426 5027; Cell: 082888145
Email: annemi.vanjaarsveld@sanparks.org

or

Rob More
Lion Sands Co-Founder CEO
Tel: 011 880 9992
Email: Robert@morehotels.co.za

or

Karin Murray
Airlink
Tel: 011 451 7300
Email: karinmurray@flyairlink.com

[Richprins]

This needs to be dissected in great detail, especially regarding "long-haul" and international" implications, and what exactly the "rehabilitation" of the runway is.

Also the implications for KRUGER Mpumalanga International Airport, certainly not 2 hours from KNP.

There was certainly no mention of international flights in 1959, nor of taking visitors' experiences to "a new level"...

I hope the successful bidders made ULTRA HIGH LEVEL SECURITY a major priority!

[Richprins]

Airlink and Federal Airlines win Skakuza bid!


Airlink is set to launch direct flights to Skukuza airport in the Kruger National Park, commencing March 2014. This will see the welcome re-establishment of scheduled air services to one of the country's most visited tourist attractions, following the closure of its airport to airline traffic over a decade ago.

Airlink, together with its partners Lion Sands and Federal Air, established the Skukuza Airport Management Company which has entered into a public-private partnership with SANParks. The partnership will oversee the refurbishment and enhancement of Skukuza Airport's runway and terminal building facilities to the international standards required to be able to handle airline traffic. Air navigational procedures for the airport will also be re-designed so as to minimize impact on the environment.

Airlink CEO, Rodger Foster said that: "In terms of the arrangement, Airlink will provide daily scheduled airline services linking Skukuza with Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport and Durban's King Shaka International Airport, and via these hubs and our partnership with South African Airways, together with it's the Star Alliance carrier's global networks, to the rest of the world. Lion Sands will provide hospitality and retail services at the Skukuza airport and Federal Air will supply feeder and charter services carrying passengers between Skukuza and the game lodges in the region. Federal will also provide links from Skukuza to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to feed our onward flights to Livingstone in Zambia and Vilanculos in Mozambique".

The venture expects to commission the engineering and construction works to rehabilitate the runway and refurbish the terminal building from 01 September 2013, with the majority of the works to be completed within two months. Once complete, the process to obtain approval of the airport and its facilities at the category required by the SA Civil Aviation Authority's will commence. It is anticipated that this will be achieved before the start of the 1st Quarter of 2014 with Airlink's scheduled airline services commencing in March 2014.

Airlink plans initially to offer daily flights from Cape Town and a twice-daily service from Johannesburg with flights from King Shaka International to follow.

The return of scheduled air services to Skukuza will enable visitors to fly directly to and from the Kruger National Park – one of the world's most treasured and popular game parks. SANParks CEO Dr. David Mabunda said "SAN Parks' long haul clients and those from major centres will no longer be subjected to a torturous life-risking 1-2 hrs journey on poorly maintained roads from Nelspruit to the Kruger National Park. We are reliving a tradition that started in 1959 to enhance visitor convenience and experience. I look forward to working with our new partners in taking the business of managing national parks assets to another level."

"The opportunity to link Skukuza synergistically with Airlink's other destinations in Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique will allow for very exciting African safari opportunities, a feature which our travel industry colleagues are extremely excited about", added Mr Foster.







http://www.fedair.com/airlink-and-feder ... hY_eKyEyWx

[Richprins]

Skukuza airport closed
2001-01-16 19:46

Pretoria - The licence of Skukuza Airport in the Kruger National Park was not renewed because it failed to comply with the aviation regulations for the operation of a commercial aerodrome, the Ministry of Transport said on Tuesday.

The ministry said acting commissioner for civil aviation Wrenelle Stander informed minister Dullah Omar that Skukuza's licence was not renewed following its expiry on 31 October last year.

Utilisation of the airport continued under an exemption granted by the acting commissioner to the scheduled carrier, SA Express, to give Skukuza Airport an opportunity to rectify its non-compliance relating to inadequate rescue and fire-fighting services.

"Even after we gave Skukuza 10 weeks to rectify the matter, the airport failed to achieve compliance," Stander said.

For Skukuza Airport, the ruling by the commissioner means that it cannot operate commercial flights to and from the airport until the airport complies with the Civil Aviation Regulations.

Stander said the regulations prohibited commercial operations exceeding 5 700kg gross take-off mass from operating in an unlicensed aerodrome or airport.

Top Priority is Safety

The ministry said Omar supported the closure of Skukuza Airport.

"While we make every effort to avoid disruption to commercial flights we cannot afford to compromise aviation safety in this country. We want to apologise for the inconvenience the closure may have and will cause but our top priority is safety and this is not negotiable", Omar said.

SA Express, a scheduled commercial airline, operates the Skukuza route daily.

The acting commissioner was informed that a fire engine was dispatched to Skukuza Airport late on Monday night in a bid to put in place a rescue and fire-fighting service.

"Skukuza Airport will need to demonstrate how this equipment can provide a substitute service and that the proper personnel are trained and procedures followed in this regard, before we can consider a new licence application," said Stander.



Common areas of non-compliance that result in an airport licence not being renewed, being suspended or cancelled are inadequate rescue and fire-fighting services, inadequate control of persons and livestock from accessing aircraft movement areas such as runways, inadequately maintained runways and obstructions in the vicinity of runways. - Sapa

SAPA


http://www.news24.com/xArchive/Archive/ ... d-20010116

[Richprins]

All this may seem petty, especially as Fedair, the old Comair, used to do business as usual in the old days.

But I see warning lights going up all over the place regarding more commercialisation, traffic, using Skuks as a waypoint to Moz., added air traffic in an effective rhino warzone, possible small international flights skipping the "hubs" mentioned, implications regarding Skukuza Conference Centre and Hotel, etc. etc.

Maybe a question would be: "Why exactly the resurrection of the airport after 12 years now?"

[H. erectus]

They just will not give-up scrounging at the bottom of the barrel!!!

[H. erectus]

Some other hideous idea's have come too fill empty
brain cavity of so called "Conservationists" on the
public payroll!! More commonly known as a custodian
of sorts.

[Richprins]

Kumba resources, a mining company, has 32% shares in Airlink....



Cape Town - Airlink, the biggest privately-owned regional airline in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) region, has sold a 32.51% stake of the company in a landmark broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) transaction.

The airline's new investor is the Sishen Iron Ore Community Development Trust, which acquired the stake in Airlink through its investment arm Sishen Iron Ore Company Community Development Trust (SIOC-cdt) Investment Holdings.

Airlink CEO Rodger Foster said the enhancement to Airlink's empowerment credentials will provide the company with a number of key competitive advantages.

"Airlink is now firmly positioned on the forefront of transformation in the aviation industry.

"The company's shareholding now exceeds the criteria committed to in the air transport sector B-BBEE charter, and qualifies Airlink to secure additional ntra-Africa regional routes as designated by the International Air Services Licensing Council."

Foster said the B-BBEE transaction has forged a relationship that will benefit all parties concerned.

"We are excited about the opportunity to work with an empowerment partner with SIOC's credentials and broad-based representation. We expect Airlink's financial performance to make a meaningful contribution to the beneficiaries of SIOC-cdt."

SIOC was established in August 2006 during the unbundling of Kumba Resources into Kumba Iron Ore and Exxaro.

It is a broad-based black community trust created solely to benefit communities around the Sishen, Sishen South and Thabazimbi mines. These communities include more than 300 000 families.

"There are wonderful synergies between SIOC and Airlink, with SIOC having been spun from the mining sector with continued investment interests in the sector, and with Airlink offering scheduled air services to many mining industrial destinations throughout Sadc – there is every prospect that new route opportunities will be identified and explored," said Foster.

Connie Molusi, the chairperson and a trustee of SIOC, said in a statement: "We are thrilled to work with the dedicated staff and management team of Airlink and being a key player in accelerating transformation within the country's aviation industry."

Airlink flies to 29 destinations within Sadc, including several in South Africa.


http://www.fin24.com/Companies/TravelAn ... l-20120704


Now Kumba has links with Mvelaphanda Group, an old customer regarding SP:


The chairperson of the South African National Parks board, Kuseni Dlamini, has been caught up in the row over plans for luxury hotels in the Kruger National Park—he has been accused of a conflict of interests.

An email sent to the chief executives of leading conservation NGOs this week pointed out Dlamini’s connections to the 120-room Radisson Blu Safari Resort, scheduled to open its doors in the south of the park near Malelane in 2013.

Dlamini is a non-executive director of Mvelaphanda Group Limited, which is partly owned by Mvelaphanda Holdings. The Rezidor Hotel Group, a Swiss company that is developing the hotel near Malelane, earlier this month extended its partnership with Mvelaphanda Holdings to cover the management of all Rezidor hotels in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.

Conservationists are opposed to the Malelane hotel. They say an environmental impact assessment was commissioned about six months after the contract was awarded and there was not sufficient public consultation.

Salomon Joubert, a former Kruger Park warden, said this week that the development and the proposed conference lodge in the park’s main camp, Skukuza, exceeded SANParks’ mandate under the Protected Areas Act to “provide spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational and tourism opportunities which are environmentally compatible”.

Mvelaphanda Holdings, founded in 1998 by Tokyo Sexwale, Mikki Xayiya and Mark Willcox, came under attack last year for its shareholding in Coal of Africa, the Australian company that is driving a controversial mining venture near the world heritage site at Mapungubwe National Park. Xayiya is also executive chairperson of the Mvelaphanda Group.

Shares diluted
Ernst Röth, the Mvelaphanda Group’s chief financial officer, said the company was being unbundled and Mvelaphanda Holdings’ share in the group had been diluted from 51% to 18%. “There is no trading relationship between the two companies. As far as the group is concerned, these things don’t get discussed at exco [executive committee] or board meetings,” he said.

Dlamini referred the Mail & Guardian questions to SANParks. His CV includes a long history in the mining industry and in March 2008 Miningx selected him as one of the top 100 most influential people in South African mining. He is currently chief executive of Old Mutual South Africa and emerging markets.

Conservation NGOs did not comment this week on the email about Dlamini, which was circulated anony­mously, but they have raised concerns in the past about the impact of overcrowding from the proposed hotels in the country’s flagship reserve. “Speculation is rife that hotels at Skukuza and Malelane are not the end of the line in the planning of SANParks. Orpen and Phalaborwa have been mentioned in this regard, though speculation has officially been denied,” Joubert said.

Joubert, Kruger’s warden from 1987 to 1994, said developing hotels in the park appeared to be a reaction to threats by the government to withdraw R170-million of its subsidy to SANParks over the next three years.

“What if the currently proposed developments do not result in financial sustainability? How many more hotels? What next—casinos?” he said. David Mabunda, SANParks’s chief executive, said the hotels had nothing to do with treasury cutbacks. They had been part of the organisation’s long-term sustainability strategy since 2001, which included measures such as introducing conservation fees, the commercialisation of private lodges and international fundraising.

The hotels would be ecologically sensitive, with a smaller footprint than that of traditional Kruger rest camps, he said. “The planned Skukuza conference lodge, which will have 120 units—a similar size to Mopani rest camp—will have a footprint of less than 1,5 hectares. Mopani, with its 102 chalets and family cottages, plus four-bedroom guesthouses, sprawls over 70 hectares of hilly terrain.”

Revenue generated from the Kruger and four other “profitable” national parks supplemented 16 other parks, he said. SANParks’s options were to push up prices or to diversify its product offerings.

“The ‘hotel allergy’ is an antiquated school of thought, crafted, shaped and advocated by the ‘purist’ ideology to conservation,” Mabunda said.


http://mg.co.za/article/2011-03-11-sanp ... -hotel-row


http://www.kumba.co.za/reports/kumba_af ... _board.php

[Duke]

SANParks CEO Dr. David Mabunda said "SAN Parks' long haul clients and those from major centres will no longer be subjected to a torturous life-risking 1-2 hrs journey on poorly maintained roads from Nelspruit to the Kruger National Park.

I guess us plebs, the bulk of the loyal clients, that travel those roads regularly don't matter

[H. erectus]

The hotels would be ecologically sensitive, with a smaller footprint than that of traditional Kruger rest camps, he said. “The planned Skukuza conference lodge, which will have 120 units—a similar size to Mopani rest camp—will have a footprint of less than 1,5 hectares. Mopani, with its 102 chalets and family cottages, plus four-bedroom guesthouses, sprawls over 70 hectares of hilly terrain.”

Hah, what more shall we debate???

This is their vision, mission and sustainability motion!!

Too the world out there,...Wake Up!!!!