Issue 20
Hop Skip and a Jump
Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria, South Africa now given international status
By Jo Kromberg  ·  2016-01-15  ·   Source:

We are in the middle of a heatwave in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Even in December the daily and unrelenting mid-30 temperatures are slightly unusual for this time of year.

And it is on a blindingly hot afternoon such as this that I enter through the welcoming automatic glass doors into the cool and quaint Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria to board my Airlink flight to Cape Town.

It seems a world away from the hustle and bustle of the closest other commercial airport which is OR Tambo in Kempton Park, Johannesburg (situated about 50 kilometres away) and which also happens to be the biggest local and international airport in the country.

Wonderboom Airport is strategically located to serve both commercial passengers and air force activities as well as offering private flight training and providing hanger space for privately owned aircraft.

Airlink is also the only commercial airline operating from here.

The location is great for commercial passengers wanting to travel to Cape Town from Pretoria. No more the schlep of sitting in traffic and negotiating trucks...

Air transport hub

The Province of Gauteng has recently decided to reinstate the airport’s international status.

Gauteng is Southern Africa's economic and air transport hub. Twenty percent of Gauteng's exports, imports and economic activity take place in and from Pretoria. That's the main reason the province needs a third international airport here. (The other two airports are the aforementioned OR Tambo International Airport and Lanseria.)

A third international airport will not only alleviate the traffic pressure at the existing international airports, but will stimulate investment, economic growth and job creation. Previously marginalised areas will benefit, and the City of Tshwane will be connected with its trading partners. The Wonderboom Airport could also serve as a deviation airport when weather conditions at Lanseria and to a limited extent, Johannesburg International Airport are unfavourable or when runway limitations arise there.

Anyway, back to my flight. Check in might just be the quickest and most painless process you have ever experienced with no queues or delays.

The aircraft parks in front of the terminal building so there is no bussing. Disembarking is quick, easy and convenient and it takes less than 10 minutes to collect your luggage and to get to your car.

Parking is affordable and close to the terminal building. From the car park it will take you less than eight minutes to walk to the check-in counter. The security access point next to the check-in counters, offer quick access to the departure lounge.

The airport also has a lovely restaurant overlooking the runway directly and groups, families and couples converge here for the excellent food and a nice day out.

My flight to Cape Town is a great experience as usual with excellent service and great food.

So next time you find yourself in Pretoria for leisure of business and have to fly to Cape Town, spare yourself the hassle and hop aboard an Airlink flight from Wonderboom Airport. The difference is remarkable...

More information:

- Affordable Parking Tariffs:

0-30minutes--Free Parking

30min--1hour $0.3

1-2 hours $0.4

2-4hours $0.5

4-5hours $0.6

5-8hours $0.7

8-12 hours $0.9

12-14hours $1.6

14-24hours $2.5

- Lounge Facility:

The Business Class lounge facility will be scheduled for completion at the end of November 2015. Currently customers travelling in Business Class receive a meal voucher, redeemable at the airports restaurant Villa San Govanni.

Long term parking facilities at Pretoria’s Wonderboom Airport:

Convenient, affordable long term parking and lock-up facilities for passengers travelling between Pretoria’s Wonderboom airport and Cape Town available through All Storage. 24 Hour security, electric fencing and camera surveillance. Transfers from the lock up facilities to the terminal will be arranged when passengers book the facility.

Undercover parking from $2 per day, lock-up parking from $4 per day

Contact details to pre-book the parking are:

Tel: 012 543 3222 (o/h) /079 543 3222 (a/h)

Email: parking@allstorage.co.za

Go to: http://www.flyairlink.com/news/saa_and_airlink_the_first_to_offer_flights_between_pretoria_and_cape_town_

For bookings and reservations, go to http://flyairlink.com/

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