Skukuza Airport

Skukuza Airport (IATA: SZK[4], ICAO: FASZ) is the only commercial airport in Kruger National Park, located near Skukuza,[2] in the Mpumalanga province in South Africa.[2] The airport was established in 1958 and was named in honour of James Stevenson-Hamilton, the first warden of the Kruger national park. In 2018, the airport was dubbed "the prettiest airport in the world" by Forbes.[5]

Skukuza Airport
Sign at the entrance to the airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
ServesKruger National Park
LocationSkukuza, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Hub forAirlink
Elevation AMSL1,020 ft / 311 m
Coordinates24°57′39″S 31°35′19″E
Map
FASZ is located in Mpumalanga
FASZ
FASZ
Location of airport in Mpumalanga province
Location of Mpumalanga in South Africa
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
17/35 1,550 5,085 Asphalt
Sources: South African AIP,[1] DAFIF[2][3]

Facilities

The airport has a small retail gift shop as well as a coffee shop and bar for visitors waiting for their flights. Three check-in counters are available, and there are couches available as well.[6][7]

Only daytime parking is available (no overnight).[7]

Ground transport

Avis Car Rental runs the car rental facilities at both Skukuza camp and Skukuza Airport. In addition to the rental facility at the airport, they provide a shuttle service to the main Skukuza camp.[8][9][10] Lion Sands Reserve provides free shuttles from Skukuza airport for guests to the reserve.[11]

Runway

The airport is at an elevation of 1,020 feet (311 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 17/35 with an asphalt surface measuring 1,550 by 30 metres (5,085 ft × 98 ft). The runway is sloped, putting the northwest end at 1,034 feet (315 m) elevation and the southeast end at 992 feet (302 m). Landing permission is handled by the Skukuza AP management company.[12]

Airlines and destinations

The only commercial flights to Skukuza are offered by Airlink, with a single daily flight to Cape Town and two daily flights to O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Private and charter flights are also available, but as Skukuza has a limit of 10 landings and 10 takeoffs per day between the hours of 09:00 and 15:00, slots are limited.[13][14] Flights are also required to take specific paths in order to reduce noise in sensitive natural areas. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there is only a single daily flight operated by Airlink to Johannesburg.

AirlinesDestinations
AirlinkCape Town, Johannesburg–O.R. Tambo,[15][16] Londolozi,[17] Mbombela,[17] Ngala,[18] Phinda,[19] Ulusaba

History

Skukuza Airport was established in 1958 and began operating in 1959. In 2001, commercial flights were discontinued due to the opening of Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport near Nelspruit. Charter flights were still accepted at the airport if scheduled ahead of time. Commercial flights were reopened in the second half of 2013, and management of the airport was handed from South African National Parks to a private operator, the Skukuza Airport Management Company, which is jointly owned by Lion Sands Reserve, Federal Air and Airlink. The airport is assigned to be able to handle a maximum of six scheduled flights a day, with a maximum of 30 per week. Up to four charter flights are allowed each day. In January 2014, construction commenced on a major renovation, and the airport reopened on 2 June 2014. The airport has also been continuously used by the South African Air Force for anti-poaching efforts.[20][21][22][23]

Skukuza Airport Gallery
  • Rhino statue at entry
    Rhino statue at entry
  • Baggage claim
    Baggage claim
  • Sign visible from the runway
    Sign visible from the runway
  • Sign as you disembark plane to building
    Sign as you disembark plane to building
  • A Comair Douglas DC-3 at Skukuza in 1973
    A Comair Douglas DC-3 at Skukuza in 1973

References
  1. "Aerodrome chart for FASZ – SKUKUZA" (PDF). South African Civil Aviation Authority. 8 July 2004.
  2. Airport information for FASZ from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
  3. Airport information for SZK at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
  4. "IATA Airport Code Search (SZK: Skukuza)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  5. Bishop, Jordan. "Introducing: The Prettiest Airport In The World". Forbes. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  6. Batzofin, David (22 March 2015). "I re-visit Skukuza airport, Kruger National Park". Travel & Things. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  7. "Facilities". Skukuza Airport. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  8. Staff. "Avis Opens at Skukuza Airport". www.autorentalnews.com. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  9. "Avis launches shuttle services between Skukuza Airport and camp". Traveller. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  10. "Car Hire Skukuza Airport - Avis". www.avis.co.za. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  11. "Skukuza Airport Kruger National Park | Flying In". Lion Sands. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  12. "AIP South Africa - Aerodromes" (PDF). South African Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  13. "Private Flights". Skukuza Airport. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  14. "About Us". Skukuza Airport. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  15. Wild Card Blog: Skukuza flights to resume after 10 years Archived 22 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 15 June 2014
  16. "SA Airlink Adds New Domestic Routes from July 2015".
  17. "Lodge Link - Connecting you to the bush Lodge Link Network Programme | Flyairlink".
  18. "SA Airlink adds new routing in 1Q17".
  19. "Skukuza Airport is spreading its wings". North Coast Courier. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  20. "Skukuza airport to reopen for commercial flights". defenceWeb. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  21. "Skukuza Airport opens for business". citizen.co.za. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  22. "Media Release: SANParks announces successful operator for Skukuza Airport". www.sanparks.org. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
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