Tshwane Deputy Mayor, Eugene Modise, has announced plans to reintroduce commercial flights between Pretoria and Cape Town, departing from Wonderboom National Airport.
Speaking during a recent visit to the airport, Modise said the airport was a key strategic asset to revitalise the local economy. Flights between Pretoria and Cape Town were halted in 2018 due to concerns over profitability.
He said the Tshwane Metro intended to restart discussions with SACAA to renew the licence for scheduled flights between the two cities.
The opposition
The former Mayor of Pretoria and caucus leader of the DA in Tshwane, Cilliers Brink, said that while a Pretoria-Cape Town route could be beneficial if market demand existed, Wonderboom Airport was currently not equipped to handle such operations. He said a private company would need to get on board to facilitate the necessary airport upgrades.
He added that he had doubts the route could provide a real economic boost for the city given the amount of work that would need to be done to make the airport safe and viable.
Agents’ reaction
Anneri Papenfus from Flight Centre Independent in Brooklyn, said she supported the reintroduction of services between Pretoria and Cape Town. According to her, the route could also serve travellers coming from Cape Town due to the proximity of Dinokeng and other private game reserves.
She said, however, that corporate travellers were unlikely to shift from OR Tambo and Lanseria, which offered higher frequencies and more flexibility.
A travel agent based in central Pretoria, who asked to stay anonymous, said offering flights from Pretoria to Cape Town sounded like a good idea, however it was important to consider that the airport’s location would primarily benefit travellers from the Moot area in Pretoria and the northern parts of the city.
“For those living in the southern and eastern parts of Pretoria, it is often quicker and more convenient to access OR Tambo International Airport via the R21. Travellers from the west of Pretoria find it easier to travel to Lanseria Airport.”
She added that, before any decisions were made, it would be wise to consult with local airlines to determine whether they saw the route as commercially viable.
Not enough traffic
Another Pretoria travel agent, who also asked to remain anonymous, said he did not believe that this route would prove profitable due to insufficient volumes.
He said for any route to succeed, especially one intended to compete with OR Tambo, clients expected flexibility, multiple daily flight options, and competitive fares.
The agent said, to achieve profitability, there would need to be strong institutional support.
Government departments and corporates based in Pretoria would need to actively direct their travel through Wonderboom, ideally making it a preferred or even mandatory departure point.
