CEMAIR has taken
delivery of its first
Bombardier Dash-8,
which will enter service on
the Margate and Plettenberg
Bay schedules this festive
season.
“This is a very exciting
development and one that
will allow us to further
expand our reach in the
domestic schedule market
and beyond,” said Miles van
der Molen, ceo of CemAir.
CemAir recently celebrated
the first anniversary of the
launch of its flights between
Johannesburg and Margate.
Speaking at a special event,
Miles said the airline had
seen considerable demand
for the route. While CemAir
had initially committed to
flying between Johannesburg
and Margate twice a week,
the airline has since
increased this to eight
times a week out of season,
and 14 times a week during
the holiday season.
The flights have seen
government and the private
sector come together
to develop and promote
the route. Local officials
agreed that the route was
an important achievement
for South Coast tourism,
contributing to the local
economy.
South Coast Tourism
ceo, Justin Mackrory, said
Cemair was a breath of
fresh air to the region. He
added that since the launch
of the new route there had
been significant talk about
further developments on
the South Coast, such as
major convention centres
and universities. He said
the Wild Coast Sun, San
Lameer and Umthunzi Hotel
had all committed their
support.
As a result of the Margate
success, other small
airports in KwaZulu Natal,
such as Ladysmith, also
want to invest in further
development.
CemAir continues to make
investments in its service.
The airline is now bookable
on the GDS and has also
introduced passenger
screening and improved
baggage-handling services.
“Aside from new aircraft,
we are also looking at new
routes,” Miles said, alluding
to the launch of a new
service to Cape Town.
Based at OR Tambo
International Airport,
CemAir operates scheduled
services from OR Tambo
to Margate, Plettenberg
Bay/Cape Town and
Kathu (Sishen) in the
Northern Cape.
