Transport

Investments in infrastructure, location and Pietermaritzburg’s status as KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial capital have contributed to the city’s airport recording the largest increase in passenger traffic among 11 counterparts around the country.

This is according to the Msunduzi Tourism Association and the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business, The Mercury has reported. According to passenger movement data, Pietermaritzburg Airport boasted a 55.04 percent increase in total passenger traffic for 2011 to date, and an average growth of 15.37 percent over the past six years. Chamber chief executive Melanie Veness said she believed the increase was largely because of improved facilities, the availability and reliability of jet flights and the fact that the flights had been more reasonably priced.

“Since King Shaka is further away than Durban International was, travelling to the main airport has become more difficult for people from this area, and this has made the Pietermaritzburg Airport a very attractive option for travel to Johannesburg,” she said. Msunduzi Tourism Association president Dumisani Mhlongo believed the economic growth which accompanied the city’s capital status, and sporting events in the region were part and parcel of the achievement.

Fine marketing, the hosting of high-profile events and the buy-in of Emirates Airlines was also believed to have contributed to the airport beating its Johannesburg and Cape Town counterparts to the post as the airport to have shown the biggest spike in passenger traffic over the past five years.