A windsock sways gently in the afternoon sun, while security guards sit calmly at their posts, the tranquil atmosphere only interrupted by the occasional passing motorist. This is Newcastle Airport, where neither cars nor aircraft are visible at the moment. Yet, behind the scenes, significant work is taking place to transform this facility into a thriving hub that promises to unlock new opportunities for Newcastle.
Reflecting on Newcastle Airport’s journey, it is essential to remember that it was officially introduced to the community in April 2019 by former Newcastle Mayor Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba.
At the time, he described the airport’s opening as a historic milestone for Newcastle, highlighting its potential for the local community. Moreover, Dr Mahlaba underscored how the R35 million investment in the airport would usher in a new era of development, attracting investors and enabling commercial flights to commence within six to eight weeks following its inauguration.
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Now, five years later, the Newcastle Municipality is steadily gaining momentum towards realising the dream of regular flights, ensuring that the airport does not remain a mere white elephant, fit only for model aircraft and the occasional airshow.
On Wednesday, 23 October 2024, Newcastle Municipality’s Chairperson of Development and Planning, Cllr Bertie Meiring, shared the exciting news that the final steps are now in progress for the airport to embark on a new operational schedule, fulfilling long-held promises to the community.
“All the necessary upgrades which the Newcastle Municipality embarked on this year have officially been completed. This includes the resealing of the runway and the installation of the new runway lights,” explained Cllr Meiring. Residents will recall that the runway resealing process began in July 2024, with the new lighting installed immediately afterwards, utilising R5 million to ensure the runway meets the required standards.
With these vital upgrades now in place, Cllr Meiring indicated that a few more tasks must be addressed before a service provider for aircraft operations can be finalised. “The airport is currently a category 2 airport, and the Newcastle Municipality aims to upgrade this classification to a higher level, enabling an open-air policy and ensuring that the community fully benefits from this facility,” stated Cllr Meiring.
To achieve this higher classification, he noted that the Newcastle Municipality has identified several essential projects:
- Construction of an Air Traffic Control Tower: This project has been budgeted for and is set for implementation during the 2024/2025 financial year, ensuring that the airport provides a safe environment conducive to passenger flights.
- Refurbishment of the Fuelling Station: The municipality has already begun planning for this crucial upgrade.
With the airport finally receiving the attention it deserves, Cllr Meiring emphasised the undeniable benefits of a functional airport for our community. “Once everything has been completed at the airport, Newcastle residents will be able to travel easily to their destinations, while the airport will also attract external investment into our town,” he stated, affirming the Municipality’s commitment to seeing the airport take off in the near future.
As the upgrades at Newcastle Airport gain momentum, what are your thoughts on these developments?
We invite you to share your views in the comment section below.
Comments 2
Only time will tell.
Every year we hear the same thing.
Construction of the air traffic control and upgrade of the fuelling station was mentioned a while back. I honestly feel that this should have been done with by now.
Next we are going to be looking for an operator who is willing to fly to Newcastle.
The signage on the airport building has already faded away and will need changing soon.
We nearing operational launch? Lets hope it happens soon. This still sounds like a 12 month + wait.
But how do we have a airport with no communications tower