SA_F_2015_04_

http://www.saflyermag.com

on a regular basis. The monthly tenants’
safety and security meeting are still well
attended and they provide a valuable forum
to brief tenants and engage with them on
various issues. As such, we manage to
maintain a good working relationship with
the tenants.

DO YOU HAVE ANY VACANT SPACE?
A couple of the smaller hangars are
available at the moment, but we are already
in discussion with a number of operators
who have indicated that they would like to
rent them.

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS
FOR LONG TERM GROWTH?
Like all sectors of our economy, aviation
is going through some tough times. We
believe the potential for growth is there
and in the short term this will come through
growth in regional schedules. Hopefully the
economy will start turning soon so that we
see further growth in the domestic market
as well.

ARE YOU STILL HOPEFUL THAT
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET SOME
INTERNATIONAL CARRIERS TO
START REGIONAL OPERATIONS,
AND ARE YOU STILL HOPING
FOR FASTJET TO GET RIGHTS?
Yes, very much so. We are in
discussions with a number of international
carriers, including fastjet, about starting
regional scheduled services out of
Lanseria.

WOULD INTERNATIONAL GROWTH
NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT GENERAL
AVIATION OPERATIONS?
We don’t believe so. We have the

capacity to handle a lot more traffic than we

currently handle.

ARE THE TRAINING SCHOOLS

DOING WELL?

Unfortunately, the training school

activity has declined over the past few

years.

AND HOW IS THE LIGHTER SIDE

OF GENERAL AVIATION DOING?

It appears to be a bit depressed at the

moment. Although on occasions we do

experience spikes in activity.

FROM AN AIRPORT MANAGEMENT

POINT OF VIEW, CAN YOU SAY THAT

YOU ARE, CONTRARY TO SOME

CLAIMS, STILL ENCOURAGING

GENERAL AVIATION?

We still encourage all sectors of the

aviation market. As I mentioned before,

although we are actively growing the

schedules side of the business, we are still

working with, and promoting, the general

aviation sector.

WOULD YOU EVER SELL PETROL

(MOGAS) AT THE AIRPORT?

We have not considered it at this time.

DO YOU FORESEE A TIME WHEN YOU

WILL STOP SELLING AVGAS ENTIRELY?

I don’t believe that we will ever stop

selling Avgas. There will always be a

demand and we will continue to supply that

demand.

HOW IS THE AIRPORT DOING IN TERMS

OF ATTRACTING INDUSTRY AROUND

IT? THE NEW INDUSTRIAL ESTATES DO

NOT SEEM TO HAVE GOT GOING.

The industrial development around

the airport is actually starting to gain

traction. Lanseria Corporate Estate on

the southern side of the airport is doing

well, and apparently sales are picking

up as more and more units are built. We

are also looking at a number of township

applications around the airport.

ARE YOU NOW ACTIVELY INVOLVED

WITH ST HELENA OPERATIONS?

We have been involved with St Helena

operations for a number of years already.

It began during the construction phase.

That involvement has been increasing

as the project nears completion. There

are a number of areas where we assist,

such as air space, design, operation

manuals, staff selection and training, and

selection of equipment. Once the airport

is commissioned, we will then be involved

in the management and overseeing

operations of the airport. •

Lanseria continues to receive positive
feedback from its airline travellers.

Lanseria's long serving CEO Gavin Sayce.