The Sunday News
THE Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) has made a decision to focus on targeting low-cost airlines for the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport in Bulawayo in a bid to develop a market in and around the city. Speaking on the sidelines of the Routes Africa 2014 event in Victoria Falls last week, CAAZ chief executive Mr David Chawota said they believed that low cost operations were likely to yield better results in the short term while building interest for increased traffic.
He said this was a tried and tested strategy as evidenced by the success of Fly Kumba.
“Because we are trying to develop a market in and around Bulawayo, it has been found necessary that initially we concentrate on the low cost operators because they are able to bring in clientele that would probably drive but are comfortable with flying but do not nearly enjoy this price difference with driving and flying,” said Mr Chawota.
He said Bulawayo by virtue of being the second largest city in Zimbabwe as well as having a number of tourism resource facilities around it, would later grow in the medium term and be the international airport it is supposed to be.
“Bulawayo is known for its historical places that tourists are likely to visit and there are efforts together with tourism authorities to develop the city as a tourism destination. All that coupled with the business growth that Government is pushing for Bulawayo, we believe that traffic and the market will grow in the medium term to have JMN as an international airport,” he said.
He said targeting low cost airlines was one of the many strategies that they were pursuing.
According to Mr Chawota efforts were under way to ensure through Government that a number of conferences were held in the city so that there was an increase in travel into JMN airport as an entry point.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu said the JMN airport was an international airport that could handle any aircraft, had all the facilities and was there for any category of operators although the airport authorities could employ any marketing strategy that would increase traffic into the airport.
“That airport has a good runway, handling facilities and targeting low cost airlines is not a sign of inferiority but just a marketing strategy that will help the airport,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Chawota spoke on the remaining construction work at JMN airport saying at least $13 million was needed for the control tower and fire station.
Mr Chawota said infrastructure at the airport must be rehabilitated to meet international standards of aviation.
“Although the airport was commissioned, there are some developments that have to be completed like the control tower, fire station, cargo handling facility as well as the access roads that have to be developed into the airport,” he said.
He said it would not be possible to complete the project this year and could not give a specific time frame on when all facilities would be done as they were facing financial challenges.
“Until such a time when we have funds we cannot say when or how long it will take us to complete the rehabilitation and upgrading of the airport,” said Mr Chawota.
The airport has a capacity to handle 1,5 million passengers per year. In spite of the world class infrastructure, the airport is only handling two airlines- Air Zimbabwe and South African Airlink. Occasionally the airport also handles private players.
