12 September 2024

Media Statement

No Embargo

Bitou Municipality is pleased to announce that the South African Civil Aviation Authority has issued a Category 2 airport license to Garden Route Aero, the entity contracted to manage Plettenberg Bay Airport. This is good news for Plettenberg Bay Airport as the license allows General Aviation Activity (GAA) to resume immediately.

This is a significant step in the right direction as it allows for private and non-scheduled commercial aviation operations to resume, supporting local aviators, private flights, and charter services. Under the Category 2 license conditions, the airport remains restricted from accommodating scheduled commercial aircraft.

Issuing the license to Garden Route Aero means that the company is now in a position to assume full responsibility for all operations and decision-making at the airport, as per the recently concluded agreement with Bitou Municipality.

Bitou Municipality will continue to support Garden Route Aero in its efforts to meet the requirements needed for upgrading the airport’s license classification to support scheduled commercial aircraft in the future.

Issued by Mr. Mbulelo Memani, Acting Municipal Manager, Bitou Municipality