Mahikeng - A landmark agreement would see Sun City visitors fly directly from Cape Town or Johannesburg to the Pilanesberg in the North West province.
“This is a game changer for this province. It catapults the province to the premier league of economic players,” said Inati Ntshanga, CEO of airline SA Express.
The agreement, approved by the North West Safety and Transport Department, enabled SA Express to schedule commercial flights in and out of both Pilanesberg Airport and the Mafikeng Airport, a first in the company's 21-year history.
“This makes us a truly regional South African airline that connects practically all of our major cities with small and outlying ones in our country,” said Ntshanga.
Although SA Express were already looking ahead to launching more routes, current schedules were only in place for Johannesburg and Cape Town. Based on the success of those routes, SA Express would then consider opening flights from Durban.
“Sun City is committed to the success of the SA Express routes to the Pilanesberg. We will be developing value-added packages for people travelling to the resort via SA Express to help encourage passenger volumes,” said Michael Farr, Sun International's Group General Manager of Corporate Brand and Communications.
Farr said the landmark agreement would bode well for tourism in the North West. “The availability of commercial flights to and from Pilanesberg will open up the gateway for easier and faster access to Sun City and the numerous attractions available in the Pilanesberg area,” he said.
Flights into the Pilanesberg from OR Tambo International Airport were scheduled three times a week - Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - and twice a week from Cape Town International Airport on Mondays and Fridays.
ANA