Airline keeps Margate connected
Cemair is increasing its footprint on the South Coast.
A MEET and greet evening, organised by the Margate Business Association, in conjunction with the Margate Tourism Area Committee, took place at the Margate Country Club last Tuesday.
Cemair’s Head of Scheduled Services, Nicolene Myburgh was the guest speaker and provided insight on future developments taking place regarding the airline and its flights to Margate.
Mrs Myburgh explained that Cemair (Pty) Ltd, founded in 2005 and based at OR Tambo International, is a licensed international and domestic airline that focuses on a sustainable environment where its equipment is appropriate for the application, which is one of the reasons why it has come into Margate.
“Cemair originally had various meetings with the Hibiscus Coast Municipality and surveys were done to see what the community wanted out of our airline. Initially, when we launched on November 1, we proposed one flight out of Margate and one flight from OR Tambo on Fridays and Sundays. During peak season and public holidays, we would have daily flights. However, beyond our expectations, there was just such a huge demand for our service, that we immediately increased our flight schedule,” said Mrs Myburgh.
“We have, as of June 28, begun providing daily flights from Margate and currently there are two flights on Fridays, and one flight on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from OR Tambo to Margate. Commuters will be pleased that we have re-introduced the 6.30am flights out on Mondays,” she said.
Cemair has completed a total of 386 flights, that’s just over 5000 passengers that have moved through Margate Airport, and has averaged a 95 percent on-time departure rate.
Cemair ticket prices have remained unchanged since the day it started its service in Margate, despite the fact that fuel has increased drastically. The airline has promised to connect Margate to more destinations, however, due to the limitations of the runway, bigger aircraft with long haul cannot be brought in. However Cemair has promised HCM that flights to Cape Town, via Mthatha or Plettenberg Bay will be available before December this year.
“Our ultimate goal is to operate a CRJ jet, a 50-seater carrier that can transport commuters from Margate to OR Tambo in under 45 minutes and Margate to Cape Town in one hour and 45 minutes. We are in current discussions with HCM to upgrade Margate Airport’s terminal building, road markings, the roads leading to the airport, security inside the terminal building, for example, getting a metal detector and the fire and rescue services to a category six, a category that is required to operate bigger aircraft,” concluded Mrs Myburgh.
“The benefits that Cemair has brought to the South Coast community are enormous and even provisional government is now looking into investing money to get Margate connected to the rest of the world.”
