28 August 2013

South Africa: Airlink to launch flights to Skukuza Airport in the Kruger National Park

update (04 Dec 2013): Airlink will also operate afternoon flights between Johannesburg and Skukuza Airport in the Kruger National Park. From 01 Aug 2014, the airline will service the route with daily flights departing Johannesburg at 13:20 (arrival: 14:10) and Skukuza at 14:35 (arrival: 15:40).

update (17 Sept 2013): Airlink initially planned to start flights between Johannesburg and Skukuza Airport in the Kruger National Park and between Cape Town and Skukuza Airport in March 2014. For some reasons plans have changed and the airline will now operate flights from 02 June 2014. Airlink's flights to Skukuza Airport are now available for sale.

Johannesburg to Skukuza Launch Schedule*:

Johannesburg 10h00 >  Skukuza 10h50
Skukuza 11h35 > Johannesburg 12h40

Cape Town to Skukuza Launch Schedule*:
Cape Town 10h35 > Skukuza 13h05
Skukuza 10h30 > Cape Town 13h30
*02 June 2014 

South African airline Airlink will launch flights to Skukuza Airport, located north of the Skukuza Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park, in March 2014. The Skukuza Airport Management Company (Pty) Ltd, jointly owned by Lion Sands, Federal Air and Airlink, therefore signed a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with South African National Parks (SANParks) for a period of ten years. The PPP oversees the refurbishment and enhancement of Skukuza Airport runway and terminal building facilities to the international standards required to be able to handle airline traffic.
Work on the construction and rehabilitation of Skukuza Airport will begin on 01 September 2013. It is envisaged that the upgrades should be substantially completed by 01 November 2013 to achieve the necessary licensing by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). It is furthermore anticipated that the licensing process will be completed before the first quarter of 2014 with scheduled flights set to commence in March 2014. Airlink's initial scheduling includes a daily service to Cape Town, a twice daily service to Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport and eventually, flights to King Shaka International Airport in Durban.
The Skukuza Airport was closed in 2001 after the SACAA did not renew the airport's operating licence.

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