International high flyers land at local airport

Hordes of public figures from across the globe landed on local tarmac before heading off to former president Nelson Mandela’s national memorial service at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday 10 December.

More than 90 heads of state and government and hundreds of other dignitaries were among the thousands who booked a flight to South Africa with a large number landing at Lanseria Airport.

Lanseria is a favourite port of entry for the wealthy who own private jets. It is also where Madiba had his first steps to freedom in Gauteng after his release from Robben Island.

Operations ran smoothly at the airport and tight security ensured it a comfortable landing for the support team of US President Barack Obama among others.

Some well-known names that were booked to land at the airport included the following delegates and teams:

• Former US president Bill Clinton and his family

• Former prime minister of the UK Tony Blair

• US Marines

• The President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan

• Angolan Deputy President Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos

• The President of Chad, Idriss Déby

• The Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper

• The Pakistan air force

• The Prime Minister of Sweden, Fredrik Reinfeldt

• The Mexican delegation

• The Canadian delegation

• Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete