King
Mswati III of Swaziland has so little faith in the new international airport
that has his name that he does not use it.
Instead,
he travels in his private jet from Matsapha, the airport that closed to make
way for the King Mswati III International Airport (KM111) that was built in a
wilderness about 70 km from any major town.
Matsapha remains
open from 08.00 to 17.00 Monday to Friday to service the King’s needs and also
to be available for any emergencies.
The
Airport closed to commercial airlines in September 2014, when KM111 became
operational.
The information is contained in a report from the Swaziland Civil Aviation Authority (SWACAA).
The information is contained in a report from the Swaziland Civil Aviation Authority (SWACAA).
According to the Observer on Sunday, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati the
airport also accommodates the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF) Air Wing, but,
‘in most cases now services royal movement as Their Majesties and members of
the royal family use it as seen during their departures and arrivals’.
The
newspaper also reported, ‘The only planes that frequently use the airport are
local ones, which according to information gathered, are those from the Flight
Academy based at the airport, the army and those from Simunye, Big-Bend,
Ngonini and Usuthu forests.
Meanwhile,
KM111 (formerly known as Sikhuphe) only has three commercial flights a day
leaving the airport, taking a maximum of 150 passengers a day to Johannesburg,
South Africa.
The
airport, considered a white elephant and vanity project for King Mswati who
rules as an absolute monarch cost an estimated E2.5 billion (US$250 million) to
build.
See also
U-TURN
ON SUCCESS OF KING’S AIRPORT
KING
PARTIES WHILE CHILDREN DIE
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2014/08/swazi-king-parties-while-children-die.html
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