Tshwane expects master plan to revive Wonderboom Airport by Dec

JOHANNESBURG - The City of Tshwane said it expects to have a master plan in place by December, with the hope that it will be a blueprint to revive the loss-making Wonderboom Airport.

The Wonderboom Airport, which is owned by the City of Tshwane, has been running at a huge loss for several years.

This has led to suggestions, in some quarters, that it should be pawned off to the private sector.

But the city said it won’t put its assets up for sale, opting instead to pull in investors to help with recovery efforts.

ALSO READ: Tshwane Municipality wants to revive Wonderboom Airport 

Tshwane’s MMC for Roads and Transport, Tlangi Mogale, said the city has approved a four-tier plan to stabilise airport operations and governance.

Mogale joined Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya on Thursday at a media briefing ahead of the city’s inaugural investment set for next month.

“We have a R7.2 billion required to turn around and grow the airport. In order to do that, we realise we can’t keep it within us, but we need to allow it to run independently, with a separate board and senior management so that they’re able to account properly and we can also take it to the market.”

Mogale said an overhaul will take some time.

“December, we plan to be done with the masterplan, but obviously, that means that’s when the actual work starts. It doesn’t mean everything will be done by December, but it basically says we’ll have a proper guiding document on issues of getting a transactional advisor.”