Airline celebrates its 1st birthday
CemAir has made a meaningful difference in the community.
CEMAIR had many reasons to celebrate last Saturday, November 1.
Miles van der Molen, CemAir’s CEO and owner, and his wife Laura, CemAir CFO, threw a party to celebrate its one-year anniversary with guests from the private and government sectors, which supported their vision to revive Margate’s air service.
Prior to CemAir’s arrival on the coast last year, Michael MacCarthy, who spearheaded the Margate Airport Action Committee, had worked closely with the Hibiscus Coast Municipality and members of the community, to revive Margate Airport.
“When government and the private sector work together, really work together, they make a force that is simply unstoppable… maybe there is an important lesson for the whole country,” he said.
However, fate took a hand, when Mr and Mrs van der Molen flew into Margate Airport in a little private plane on August 18, 2013.
And the rest is history… To date, CemAir has flown 10 000 passengers between Johannesburg and Margate, and has eight flights scheduled per week.
Among many positive contributing factors, it has created jobs and made a significant difference to the local economy.
Another toast can be given to Mr van der Molen’s exciting plans for the future – an expansion of the airport, a runway extension, terminal building improvements and of course, the grand arrival of the 36-seater Dash 8, complete with toilets and cabin staff.
“The airline has been welcomed by the community, and has made a meaningful difference,” said Mr van der Molen.
Justin Mackrory, CEO of Ugu South Coast Tourism, said that CemAir has reopened a critical visitor and business aspect that is vital for the tourism sector- that of easy air access.
“By virtue of CemAir enjoying pleasing seat occupancies and expanding the number of flights to and from Margate, it suggests that consumer demand is evident and the coast is now a more convenient destination to visit,” he said.
Mr Mackrory said the service has re-energised specific niche opportunities within the tourism and leisure context and going forward, the coast can expect more golf and sports related tourism, more interest in the meetings, conferences, incentives and events (MICE) segment of the industry, and a higher degrees of interest in holiday or second home options for leisure purposes and even as a commuter option, whereby breadwinners work in Gauteng, and families enjoy a great quality of life at the coast.
“With less travel time on the road, visitors travelling by air will have additional time to remain at their destination and spend more valued rands in the area. This brings stronger corporate and government business links to the coast with prospects of investment,” he said.
As Pat Symcox, former South African cricketer and owner of Remax Coast and Country said, CemAir has made positive game changes… for business, jobs and everyone. “Let’s fly to further places, and do great things together,” he added.
