Virginia may move to old airport

Both studies, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), found that people living with the highest levels of aircraft noise had increased risks of stroke, coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases.

Both studies, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), found that people living with the highest levels of aircraft noise had increased risks of stroke, coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases.

Published Oct 1, 2012

Share

Durban - The eThekwini municipality is considering moving Virginia Airport operators to the old Durban International Airport site, ending months of speculation as to why, possibly, the city reneged on its agreement to renew the operators’ leases.

City manager S’bu Sithole would meet Transnet officials to discuss this option as well as using the old airport site to accommodate overflow traffic from King Shaka International Airport, said Nomvuso Shabalala, deputy mayor and chairwoman of the city’s economic development committee.

Virginia Airport operators, some of whom have been based there for 50 years, have been in the dark since early this year after the city informed them that they would operate on month-to-month leases. The tender for the management of the airport is also set to be finalised this month as the current contract with Indiza Airport Management – which has been managing it for the past 10 years – comes to an end.

Speaking to The Mercury, Shabalala said the city would meet Transnet about the possible relocation.

“We are discussing the issue of the old airport site for some of the operators at Virginia to move to that site. The city also wants more space to accommodate bigger flights that Virginia cannot.”

Shabalala indicated that this space was needed to accommodate overflow traffic from King Shaka International Airport, on those occasions when it was needed.

Although speculation has been rife for months that the city has alternate plans for the Virginia Airport site – which is situated on prime land – Shabalala said the city “had not discussed plans [for the site] for now”.

She then referred The Mercury to Sithole for further details on the relocation plans. However, numerous attempts to secure an interview with him were unsuccessful.

Virginia Airport manager Glen Bryce said a move to the old airport site would garner a generally positive response from current Virginia operators – second only to remaining at the current site. However, if such a move was going to happen, it should happen now.

“Of course staying where they are would be the operators’ first priority, but if it needs to move then the old airport site would be the best option.

“There are more businesses in the South Durban Basin, so it stands to reason that the airport should move there. There will also be a larger runway for business jets.”

Bryce believed this option would be acceptable to the current operators who were already threatening legal action if the city tried to move them to Cato Ridge or King Shaka.

“Give them long-term tenancy and the move would be good… It is looking like Virginia is always going to be a hot potato.”

Daryl Mann of Aero Natal, which has been at Virginia for 40 years, said he would not object to moving to the old airport site if the city assisted in the relocation costs.

But he did not believe that move would ever happen. And, he said, as he believed his 10-year lease at Virginia was legal and binding, he would fight the municipality in court if he was told to move.

However, if the move was a reality, Bryce said, the operators only needed a portion of the site – the runway and about 200m in width for the hangars, which would have to be built from scratch.

“It is just not good to say that there is no need for Virginia Airport. We need general aviation and if we don’t have this airport Durban will be the only city in the world without it.”

Bheko Madlala, spokesman for the provincial Department of Economic Development, said the government had taken a conscious decision to promote regional airports “which we think are critical for economic growth and tourism in KZN”. - The Mercury

Related Topics: