Civil Aviation Authority Grants Category 2 License to GRA for Plettenberg Bay Airport

In a significant development for regional aviation, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has awarded Garden Route Aero (GRA) a Category 2 license for Plettenberg Bay Airport. This pivotal license marks a key milestone, enabling the resumption of General Aviation Activities (GAA) at the airport and representing a crucial step towards the restoration of air services in the area.

The Category 2 license facilitates the return of general aviation flights, which include private and non-scheduled commercial operations. This license does not, however, permit scheduled commercial aircraft to operate under the current classification. Nonetheless, it represents a major advance for the local aviation community, allowing local aviators, private flights, and charter services to resume operations at the airport.

Deidre Davids, spokesperson for GRA, expressed relief at the license award: “We are relieved to have obtained this license from the Civil Aviation Authority. The return of general aviation is vital for the local aviation community and the wider Plettenberg Bay area. While we are still working towards securing commercial flight operations, this is a positive step towards the full restoration of services at Plettenberg Bay Airport.” GRA remains committed to collaborating with the CAA to meet the requirements necessary for advancing the airport’s classification to support scheduled commercial flights in the future.

Recently, Bitou Municipality and Garden Route Aero finalized an agreement on the future of Plettenberg Bay Airport, concluding all contractual matters. With the license officially granted, Garden Route Aero now assumes full responsibility for the airport’s operations and decision-making, a shift from previous management structures.

The newly acquired license allows GRA to prioritize and expedite essential maintenance work at the airport, with runway repairs being the immediate focus. Engineers have been appointed to evaluate the scope of required repairs. Once the assessment is complete, the timeline, procurement needs, and construction plan will be established. “Our aim is to start runway repairs as quickly as possible, applying a comprehensive solution that ensures durability and performance for at least the next five years. This approach will minimize the need for additional repairs in the short term,” said Davids.

With the completion of the runway upgrades, the airport will be positioned to reintroduce scheduled commercial services. The strengthened and slightly extended runway will also pave the way for an application for a Category 5 license, supporting smaller regional carriers and expanding the destination’s air service capacity without targeting larger aircraft.

“We extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to all airport stakeholders, particularly the general aviation community, for their continued support during this transition. We have a major task ahead of us. Our focus will be on upgrading the runway and enhancing the services at the airport,” concluded Deidre Davids.

Plett Tourism