Pilanesberg International Airport
Located in Pilanesberg in the North West Province of South Africa, the Pilanesberg International Airport is one of the main public air routes to the amazing holiday destination of Sun City. In fact, the airport was built mainly to facilitate access to Sun City as well as to the numerous game reserves in the Pilanesberg area.
The airport opened in the early 1980’s and started out with a runway that measured 2000 meters in length and 23 meters in width. It was built with a number of corrugated iron hangars and catered mainly to service charter aircraft. It also served as a landing point for a number of scheduled BOP AIR flights. There was a small terminal building which featured a control room, a fire station and small passenger handling facilities. Much of these original structures still exist, but have been expanded and improved somewhat since the Pilanesberg Airport was upgraded in 1992. The renovations feature a unique African theme to help get travelers in the mood and provide an entertaining atmosphere.
The Pilanesberg International Airport underwent further renovations in 1999 when the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) took over the running and management of the facility from the North West Province authorities. ACSA extended the length of the runway by a further 700 meters and widened it by 7 meters. Doing so enabled the airport to accommodate middle-bodied aircraft which has proved to be very beneficial for the Pilanesberg Airport. Today this airport provides a fitting gateway to the Sun City Resort with its strong ethnic-style architecture and Botswana characterization. Visitors arriving at the airport immediately feel as if they have been transported to the heart of the country as they notice visually intriguing thatched roofs and traditional African patterning. Despite the fact that the airport has experienced a drop in passenger numbers over recent years, it still receives regular flights and the asphalt tarmac receives roughly 11 000 passengers per a year. Make sure you’re one of them for a unique African experience.
