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The South African Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) has downgraded Richards Bay Airport over fire safety concerns following a routine inspection.
Commercial airline Airlink confirmed the airport’s downgrade on Friday, which forced it to suspend flights between the Northern KwaZulu-Natal industrial port town and Johannesburg.
Richards Bay Airport has been downgraded from a Category 5 to a Category 2 aerodrome by Sacaa, meaning it is not allowed to land commercial aircraft.
Only small aircraft may use the airport until the downgrade is lifted.
Moneyweb understands that Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) has dispatched a replacement fire engine from OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, as the one at Richards Bay is in for repair.
This should allow for a resumption of scheduled commercial services within a few days.
Airlink said in a statement that it suspended commercial flights to Richards Bay due to the Sacaca safety concerns.
This is a blow for Richards Bay, which is home to various mining operations, heavy industries and SA’s biggest coal export terminal, making it one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.
Richards Bay also has ambitions of overtaking Durban as KwaZulu-Natal’s economic hub and has plans to develop an international airport for the uMhlathuze municipality in which it is located. The airport is owned by the municipality and managed by Acsa.
“The safety and wellbeing of our customers, crews and equipment is paramount for Airlink and we scrupulously follow the Sacaa’s safety regulations,” said Airlink MD Rodger Foster.
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