GEORGE NEWS - Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier, has welcomed the announcement by Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, that George Airport will open to receive business travellers and cargo under Alert Level 3.
As the airport is a critical transport link for providing access to the Garden Route District for many business travellers across South Africa, this decision provides much-needed support to jobs and the economy in the Western Cape.
In a press release earlier today, Maynier said his department, together with the Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa), the George Airport management, George Municipality and the provincial Department of Health, has been working hard to enable the airport to meet the criteria required for it to open.
“Thanks to the efforts of all involved, the Western Cape Department of Health will partner with Acsa to ensure that Covid-19 screening is conducted at the George Airport,” he said. “This arrangement will remain in effect until Acsa has secured a permanent solution, or the need for intensive Covid-19 screening no longer exists.”
Since Alert Level 3 was instituted, the airport management has implemented several health and safety steps to ensure that the airport would be ready to open during the Covid-19 pandemic.
These include the implementation of social distancing and hygiene measures such as:
- Plexiglass at check-in counters;
- Regular disinfection of key areas such as baggage trollies;
- Reduced staffing, with essential staff working staggered shifts;
- Use of signage and overhead announcements to share information on Covid-19 safety measures.
They are confident that George Airport is now ready to welcome businesses travellers to the Garden Route.
“The importance of opening the George Airport for the economy of the Garden Route district cannot be understated.”
Businesses in George and the Greater Knysna region depend heavily on business travellers having access via the George airport. The average number of passengers through the George Airport before the Covid-19 lockdown was around 55 000 per month, of which approximately 40% were business travellers.
“For now, and perhaps for some time, flight travel will be different to what we’ve become accustomed to as we implement the necessary safety measures to stop the spread of Covid-19.”
Maynier said the pandemic will undoubtedly have a severe impact on businesses and jobs. It is critical that where the economy can be opened safely, even if on a limited scale, everyone sticks to the rules so that we can save businesses and jobs in the Western Cape.
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