South Africa’s Western Cape province will soon host a conference aimed at bringing major airlines together to discuss ways of increasing international flights to Cape Town, according to Provincial Premier Marthinus Van Schalkwyk.
Addressing delegates at the opening of the Western Cape Trade, Tourism and Investment Conference in London on Thursday, the premier said there was still room for additional flights to meet the growing demand.
The premier arrived in London on Wednesday for the two-day conference, accompanied by member of the executive committee for Finance and Economic Development, Ebrahim Rasool. They were both expected to meet business people to discuss trade relations, tourism and investment opportunities in the Western Cape.
”We know that one of the biggest barriers to increasing the flow of visitors to the Cape from the United Kingdom has been the need for more frequent direct flights,” he said.
”In this regard we are very happy that the recent decision by the international slot committee has resulted in South African Airways (SAA) receiving two additional peak-time slots at Heathrow International Airport.”
He added that the planned airline destination conference would try to attract more independent airlines flying directly to the Mother City.
Van Schalkwyk said the airline conference would bring together at least 200 delegates from major airlines that flew to South Africa, tour operators and key role players in the hospitality and convention industries.
The conference, he said, was an initiative of the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) and was supported by the City of Cape Town.
The premier said during 2002, 76% of all overseas visitors to South Africa arrived by air and only 27% arrived directly into Cape Town International Airport.
He told delegates that there were 52 airlines flying directly to Johannesburg.
”It is therefore clearly in the Western Cape’s best interest to encourage a greater share of these 52 airlines to also fly directly into Cape Town,” he concluded. – I-Net Bridge