Matsapha Airport

Matsapha Airport
The terminal in 2004
Summary
Airport typeRoyal movements, flights of the Eswatini Government, mercy flights
OperatorEswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACAA)
LocationManzini, Eswatini
Elevation AMSL2,075 ft / 632 m
Coordinates26°31′44″S 031°18′27″E / 26.52889°S 31.30750°E / -26.52889; 31.30750
Map
MTS is located in Eswatini
MTS
MTS
Location of the airport in Eswatini
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
07/25 2,600 8,530 Asphalt
Source: DAFIF[1] GCM[2]

Matsapha Airport (IATA: MTS, ICAO: FDMS) is an airport located near Manzini, a city in Manzini District in the center-west of Eswatini. It serves flights of the Eswatini Government and mercy flights.[3]

History

Although a new airport for Manzini, King Mswati III International Airport, was inaugurated in March 2014, Airlink chose to continue flying to Matsapha. However, the Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACAA) required the airline to end flights to Matsapha on 29 September 2014 and switch to King Mswati III Airport the following day.[4]

The Matsapha Airport was still planned to be used by the royal family and the army. The airport recorded 70,000 passengers yearly until it closed.[5] All the commercial flights had one destination, the O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The plan to replace the Matsapha Airport was announced in 2000 by King Mswati.[6]

Facilities

The airport is at an elevation of 2,075 feet (632 m) above mean sea level, the runway elevation is 2,075 feet (632 m). It has one runway designated 07/25 with an asphalt surface measuring 2,600 by 45 metres (8,530 ft × 148 ft).[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Airport information for FDMS[usurped] from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
  2. ^ Airport information for Matsapha Airport at Great Circle Mapper.
  3. ^ "Matsapha Airport". Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 4. June 2020.
  4. ^ "Eswatini: Airlink Forced to Use King's Airport". allAfrica.com. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  5. ^ Simelane Mbabane, Lewis (9 October 2014). "Swaziland's King Mswati airport finally gets going". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Swaziland airport fails to lift off". The Mail & Guardian. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2021.


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