An intra-provincial flight service was launched in Kimberley and Upington on Wednesday, 22 Janurary 2014. The airline known as Phakalane Airways will have its planes based at Kimberley Airport, conducting scheduled flights between Kimberley and Upington and Kimberley and Springbok. Non-scheduled flights will include travel to Calvinia, De Aar, Kuruman, Sishen and Lanseria.

“The Northern Cape Provincial government has been investigating opportunities to provide an economically viable, yet safe air transfer system for several years,” announced Mr. Karel Phentela, Chairman of the Northern Cape Tourism Association, at the launch’s gala dinner.

The flight service will enable business travellers from both the public and private sector to save significant travel time when accessing key industrial hubs and smaller towns.  Mr Phentela commented that the aerial access is not only time efficient, but will lessen the burden on the Northern Cape’s road system in terms of traffic volumes and road safety. He added that leisure travellers would also find the destination even more appealing, as those with limited time would be able to experience the diverse and unique tourism offerings within the different regions.

CEO of Phakalane Airways, Captain Allan Roebuck, said that the airline had entered into a one-year pilot contract with the Northern Cape Provincial Government after being awarded a tender.