KNP: Skukuza airport to reopen for commercial flights

[Richprins]

Satara has a long dirt airstrip, BC! Not commercial

Lots of aerial activity with the poaching and what not, so who knows?

[Bushcraft]

They certainly didn’t look like anti poaching type planes and as I said looked rather fancy and very commercial

[Flutterby]

Media Release: SANParks announces new restaurants and key Public Private Partnerships

Date: 30th October 2013

South African National Parks (SANParks) today announced the successful bidders for the provision of restaurant and retail services at various national parks under its management. The announcements were made at the organisation’s headquarters in Pretoria following weeks of adjudication which began with tender processes.

A new retail agreement was signed between SANParks and Tourvest for operations in the Kruger National Park (KNP), Tsitsikamma and Addo Elephant National Park.

According to the CEO of SANParks Dr David Mabunda, this was done mainly to improve tourists shopping experiences and to upgrade the shops and make them eco-friendly. “SANParks has placed focus on value for money for all clients in appointing Tourvest”.

The organisation also embarked on a tender process to appoint operators for restaurants in the KNP. The bidders had several obligations to meet, such as operating, development and refurbishment requirements. They had BBBEE targets to meet as well as environmental obligations.

It was announced that in the KNP’s, Lower Sabie; Olifants and Letaba camps Mugg and Bean restaurants will be fully operational from March 2014, while the Pretoriuskop and Satara rest camps will have Wimpy restaurants with operations expected to commence also in March 2014.

The Skukuza Selati restaurant will be operated by Ciao! and are expected to start operations in December 2013 and the main camp restaurant and take away will be serviced by Cattle Baron and Bistro. Operations will start in May 2014 because of extensive refurbishment.

Details were also given of refurbishments and timelines for the Skukuza Airport after an earlier announcement that airport will be serviced by the Skukuza Airport Management Company, a consortium consisting of Airlink; Federal Air; Lion Sands and Community Development Trust. The consortium will operate the airport for ten years from the commencement of operations.

The service will operate under strict environmentally acceptable conditions. Hours of operations will be limited to between 9H00 and 15H00. Runway refurbishment commences on the 4 November. The terminal refurbishment will start early in 2014 with flights expected to commence on the 2 June 2014 from OR Tambo International.

Dr Mabunda congratulated all the newly appointed operators and expressed his satisfaction that all proper channels were followed. “I look forward to rave reviews from our clients on service, convenience, satisfaction and value for money, we will as always monitor the performance of our new partners and look forward to a mutually benefitting relationship’ concluded Dr Mabunda.

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communications
Tel: 012 426 5170

Enquiries:
Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli
Acting Head: Communications, SANParks
Tel: 012 426 5203; Cell: 073 373 4999
Email: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org

[Sprocky]

2013-10-30 08:52

Skukuza - Skukuza Airport in the Kruger National Park, will close between November 4 and December 13 for maintenance.

Tourism Update reports that during the closure, there will be no flights into the airport.

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and Phalaborwa Airport are the alternative airports to use in the Kruger vicinity.

[H. erectus]

The commercialization rot has set!! Set here and elsewhere, thoroughly!!!

Kruger has become a free for all!!, yet a single dead loss in self!!

To lose one's identity in life, it is known, can only lead to distress,..

[Toko]

PMG: Parlimentary Questions

Reply received: October 2013

QUESTION NO. 2378 NW2857E

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 31 OF 2013

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 20 September 2013

Mr N J J van R Koornhof (Cope) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:

(1) When will the Skukuza Airport become operational;

(2) Whether any domestic airlines have been awarded slots to fly there; if not, why not; if so, (a) which airlines and (b) from which cities will they fly?



2378. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS REPLIES:

(1) 2 June 2014.

(2) Yes.

(a) SA Airlink

(b) The proposed flight schedule includes one daily return flight from Cape Town and three daily return flights from Johannesburg.

[Toko]

Scheduled flights to Kruger National Park

Airlink, a South Africa-based private airline, will launch scheduled, direct flights into Skukuza Airport in Kruger National Park beginning June 2.

The direct flights from Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town to Skukuza Airport will provide guests with easy access to adjoining world-renowned Private Game Lodges as well as the South African National Park lodges and camps within the Kruger National Park.

A short air transfer from Skukuza Airport to Nelspruit KMIA will also enable guests to connect conveniently to Livingstone, Zambia, and Vilanculos, Mozambique.

National Parks CEO David Mabunda said, “SAN Parks’ long-haul clients and those from major centers will no longer be subjected to a one- or two-hour 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 Airlink’s CEO, Rodger Foster.

[H. erectus]

Hey Doc!!,... may I remind you,....

National Parks CEO David Mabunda said, “SAN Parks’ long-haul clients and those from major centers will no longer be subjected to a one- or two-hour journey on poorly maintained roads from Nelspruit to the Kruger National Park

You are biting at the hand that feeds you,....

[H. erectus]

We are reliving a tradition that started in 1959

Please cut out the crap!! You are only hopefully sponging on what you
seem to believe was a money making strategy!!! Please distance yourself
from the past, 'cause they were idiots too!!!

[Richprins]

SKUKUZA – It was a historic occasion when the first flight into Skukuza Airport landed on Monday.

Two Airlink flights, one carrying mainly management and staff of SANParks and the other tourists, flew in from OR Thambo from 11:00 to 13:00.

The opening of the airport will be of great convenience to visitors who can now fly direct to Kruger National Park.

Pictured are chief pilot Jaco Henning and co-pilot Arné Badenhorst being welcomed by Skukuza Airport manager Mike Van Niekerk (right) and Bryn Pyne-James, manager of SANParks fund-raising.

The official opening will take place later this year, only when the terminal and other facilities have been completed.



http://lowvelder.co.za/200215/skukuza-a ... st-flight/