SACAA downgraded the airport to category two, which is below the minimum level required for scheduled commercial air services after the airport was found to be noncompliant with safety regulations.

“The tourism sector is just recovering from the effects of Covid-19 and LTA is doing its utmost to ensure that tourism gets back on its feet again, but this will not be the right time for the airport to be closed for business when the sector was hit so hard.

“We are banking on the work done by the Department of Transport in the province to make sure that the challenges identified are resolved,”said the acting chief executive officer of LTA, Ndavhe Ramakuela.

Airlink suspended its flights to Polokwane with immediate effect.

“The downgrading comes against the backdrop of a successful engagement with Airlink, a key stakeholder, who outlined their new lowered rates from Polokwane to OR Tambo International Airport and back.

LTA had then welcomed the gesture by Airlink as most people would be able to utilise air transport to bring some relief on the road transport from Gauteng to Limpopo and vise-versa,” said Ramakuela.

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Ramakuela further said that the agency is optimistic that there will be intervention from the provincial government to resolve the impasse as air transport can bring relief to those who were reluctant to drive especially now while the prices are still down.

Meanwhile, the DA in the province is extremely disappointed by the de-categorisation of the airport and its inability to provide the minimum level of emergency services required to maintain its aerodrome license category.

DA provincial spokesperson on Transport and Community Safety, Katlego Suzan Phala urged the provincial government to place Gateway Airport Authority Limited (GAAL), which is the entity currently assigned with the sole responsibility to manage Polokwane International Airport under business rescue.

She said that GAAL has been marred with inefficiency, maladministration and corruption for years.

“The consistent lack of competent individuals in its employ and the chronic vacancies equates to GAAL not only flying blind in its day to-day operations but it was caught off guard with the downgrade,” said Phala.

She further said that GAAL is expected to generate its own revenue. However, in the period under review, the entity has been operating at a huge loss relying mainly on government grants for its operations.

GAAL incurred a net loss of R11, 438 million in the 2018/19 financial year as disclosed in the auditor general’s report.

She added that there needs to be consequence management for the board, senior officials and even the MEC in line with her service agreement signed with the premier for allowing GAAL and the airport to deteriorate to this level.

“The airport is the commercial gateway to Limpopo and businesses will be severely affected by the lack of fast access.

We cannot afford hindrances to our economic growth,”