Air show planned to save KZN airports

The sickness is thought to be caused by a contradiction between what your eyes are telling your brain and the signals being received from the inner ear, which influences balance. Photo: Michael Walker

The sickness is thought to be caused by a contradiction between what your eyes are telling your brain and the signals being received from the inner ear, which influences balance. Photo: Michael Walker

Published Apr 11, 2012

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A string of air shows is being planned to generate funds for six KwaZulu-Natal airports which are in financial trouble.

The six municipal airports are in Newcastle, Pietermaritzburg, Margate, Richards Bay, Ulundi and Durban North.

The shows, to take place in June and July this year, will also be used to showcase aviation in the province, to support tourism in the province and to position KZN as an attractive and competitive aviation industry location.

The general manager of infrastructure management and economic services in the provincial Treasury Clive Coetzee, said the revenue from each show would go towards the development and upgrading of the host airport.

The long-term goal of the shows, which would take place annually for three years, would be to make the airports financially viable.

Coetzee said the department had budgeted R6 million over the three-year period to host the shows, but sponsorship was also required.

He said hosting the shows would support the provincial aviation industry and tourism market, and improve the financial viability of the municipal airports while contributing to KZN’s economic growth.

He dismissed talk that Pietermaritzburg Airport, which was being refurbished at a cost of about R40m, would be moved to Cato Ridge. Coetzee said rumours of a move again began doing the rounds after the issue was raised in the Msunduzi council last week, but no such move was envisaged. - The Mercury

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