Flights resume at Polokwane Airport after week-long suspension
Airlink flights have resumed at Polokwane Gateway Airport after technical issues, yet landings in poor weather remain a concern without a landing system.
POLOKWANE – After a week-long suspension due to technical issues, Airlink flights have resumed operations at Polokwane Gateway Airport.
The grounding, which began on April 1, followed concerns raised over the airport’s air navigation system, particularly its ability to handle landings during adverse weather conditions.
Read more: Flight schedule changes at Polokwane Airport: What you need to know
The Premier, Dr Phophi Ramathuba confirmed that while flight operations have resumed, landings during poor weather conditions may still pose some challenges.
“When the weather is bad, this particular area becomes worse, making it hard for flights to land. Pilots cannot see the runway, hence the need to procure the Instrument Landing System (ILS),” she explained.
The ILS, which enables safe landings in low-visibility conditions, is currently not in place at the airport.
Ramathuba said that acquiring and installing the system would cost an estimated R30m.
She encouraged the airport management to prepare a detailed proposal for submission to the provincial government.
However, funding can only be considered during the next budget adjustment period, as the 2025/26 budget has already been approved.
The Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS) lifted the suspension on April 8, and flights are now operating as per schedule.
Despite the weather-related limitations, the airport assures travellers that operations are running smoothly with approved flight procedures in place, valid for the next five years.
