Despite Pietermaritzburg Airport’s successful turnaround and the conclusion of a R40-million expansion, there is a “need to take it further”, KwaZulu-Natal  MEC for Finance Ina Cronjé said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the official opening of the regional airport’s R18-million upgraded terminal building and reconfigured apron, she said, after three years of cumulative losses, the cumulative deficit was “completely wiped out” by September.

“We now have a financially viable airport. The cash flow has increased from a deficit of R3-million in 2009 to a surplus of R1-million this year.”

The net revenue of the airport had increased from R2.7-million in 2009 to R5.5-million this year.

Further, over the past two years, passenger numbers nearly doubled from about 5 000 a month, in 2009, to an average of 9 200 a month currently, with a record 10 400 passengers registered in October.

A second airline, SA Express, had established a route between Pietermaritzburg Airport and Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport.

“While the full R40-million injected in the project has now been expended, it is not the end yet,” Cronjé vowed.

There was a need for a hangar development plan on the back of “huge” demand for hangars and hangar space, as well as a need to strengthen the airport committee and establish an airport entity.

The marketing of the airport also needed to “go beyond” the district and municipal boundaries.

Further, there was a need to make proposals for the establishment of an aviation academy and innovation and technology hub at the regional airport a reality.

Meanwhile, other regional airports in KwaZulu-Natal had reported undertaking activities to cash in on an increasing number of air passengers.

“The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury supports initiatives and developments at 11 regional airports. A total of R81-million has been made available in direct funding, while the infrastructure support team is also available to assist municipalities with their development initiatives at their respective airports,” Cronjé said.

This “crack team” was supporting the Mkuze municipality in the expansion of its airport and relevant routes, with a R10.5-million upgrade - including a fence and new terminal building - of the Mkuze Airport expected to start in January and be completed by June, when the Mkuze Airshow was scheduled.

The task team was providing advice and technical support to both the Dundee and Vryheid regional airports, while it was in discussions with the eThekwini municipality to support Virginia Airport developments.

“Newcastle municipality has committed to work with the team on some projects at the airport, including Freedom Air, to operate flights to and from Newcastle and OR Tambo,” Cronjé commented.

Further, SA Airlink would start a route between Richards Bay and OR Tambo this month, while Fed Air and Comair established routes from Ulundi and Margate, respectively, to OR Tambo.