Scheduled flights to Plettenberg Bay will have positive impact on local property prices.
Category What's happening in Plettenberg Bay
THE RETURN OF SCHEDULED FLIGHTS TO PLETTENBERG BAY AIRPORT
The topic of the reopening of the Plett Airport has been an ongoing saga, and source of many a heated debate, for nearly a decade. Investors have come and gone, the governance of the municipality has changed hands and the much anticipated re-opening of the airport seemed, to many locals, to be a pipe dream after the decommissioning of the fuel bowsers at the airport.
For local residents and business owners alike the reopening of the airport was perceived as vital for the growth and long term sustainability of the local economy. It would be of particular benefit to tourism and related industries (the life blood of Plettenberg Bay), commuters, job creation and the property market.
It was with great excitement that Executive Mayor of Bitou, Councillor Memory Booysen, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mr Miles van der Molen, CEO of Cemair, to bring scheduled flights back to Plettenberg Bay Airport on the 28th March 2014.
On this auspicious day the first Cemair flight touched down at Plettenberg Bay Airport to much fanfare and applaud. Kevin Grinaker was master of ceremonies and kept the crowd entertained with anecdotes and recollections of the history of Plettenberg Bay’s Airport including gravel runways.
Initially scheduled airline flights took place between Plettenberg Bay and OR Thambo International and between Plettenberg Bay and Cape Town International over weekends – Friday, Saturday and Sunday. However due to the demand for flights the frequency of flights has already been expanded with two additional flights between Plettenberg Bay and OR Thambo during the week. May the demand for flights continue!
The airport itself has undergone a mini facelift thanks to the arrival of the scheduled flights and boasts a check-in counter, luggage handling and screening facilities, a renovated waiting area, landscaped gardens as well as providing catering for the scheduled flights.
Ticket prices between Plett and JNB range from R1799 to R2249 one way per passenger and between Plett and CT from R1449 to R1749 one way per passenger depending on availability. Book online at www.flycemair.co.za.
Author: Helen Ward
