Mthatha Airport (UTT): Flight disruptions expected due to inclement weather conditions!

Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS), the company that provides air traffic, navigation, training and associated services within South Africa, has informed the public that inclement weather conditions are currently affecting operations at Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha in South Africa's Eastern Cape. Flight disruptions can therefore be expected.
Mthatha Airport (UTT) does have a valid Instrument Flight Procedure for runway (RWY) 14, the runway currently in use today (11 October 2024). However, due to the severe weather conditions this morning, operations are adversely affected as safety is prioritised. We'll keep you posted!

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Eastern Cape: Airlink temporarily suspends flights to Mthatha!

South African regional carrier Airlink has announced the temporary suspension of all flights to Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha in South Africa's Eastern Cape. This is due to continued adverse weather conditions impacting landing requirements, and all airport/landing approach procedures being currently suspended. Flights to and from Mthatha will resume as soon as the weather improves. According to Airlink, weather forecasts indicate improvement by Tuesday, 10 September 2024. We'll keep you posted!

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South Africa reopens four additional domestic airports!

South Africa's Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, announced at a media briefing on 25 August 2020 on the new Covid-19 regulations related to the transport sector under alert level two, that in addition to the 14 airports already permitted to operate in South Africa four more airports have been given the green light to resume operations. The Minister named Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, Hoedspruit Airport (HDS) in Hoedspruit in Limpopo, Phalaborwa Airport/Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW) in Phalaborwa in Limpopo and Margate Airport (MGH) in Margate in KwaZulu-Natal as the new additions. Under alert level two, international air travel in South Africa remains prohibited.

The following 14 airports are currently operating in South Africa:

• OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg 
• King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban 
• Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town 
• Lanseria International Airport (HLA) in Johannesburg
• Bram Fischer International Airport (BFN) in Bloemfontein
• Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) in Nelspruit
• Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) in Pietermaritzburg
• Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) in Port Elizabeth
• Richards Bay Airport (RCB) in Richards Bay
• Skukuza Airport (SZK) in Kruger National Park
• Upington Airport (UTN) in Upington
• East London Airport (ELS) in East London
• George Airport (GRJ) in George
• Kimberley Airport (KIM) in Kimberley

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SA Express to launch new routes to the Eastern Cape!

State-owned South African carrier, SA Express, is set to expand its domestic route network with the launch of new routes to the Eastern Cape. Effective 15 November 2019, the airline will operate new flights between Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and East London Airport (ELS) in East London (4 frequencies per week), East London and Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha and Mthatha and Cape Town (3 frequencies per week). These new routes are in addition to the 12 destinations on SA Express' current route network.

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Airlink to increase flights between Johannesburg <> Mthatha!

South African regional carrier Airlink will re-introduce its midday flight between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape on 7 March 2019. The additional midday flights will be operated Mondays to Fridays and will depart from Johannesburg at 12:00 and arrive in Mthatha at 13:15. The return flight will depart from Mthatha at 13:35 and arrive in Johannesburg at 14:50. The service will operated on board an Embraer 135 regional jet.
Airlink resumed services between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg  and Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha on 19 February 2019 after the Mthatha Airport's brief suspension by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) in January 2019.

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SA Express to increase flights between Johannesburg <> Mthatha!

South African regional carrier, SA Express, is set to add a second frequency between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape commencing on 25 February 2019. The morning flight will depart Johannesburg at 06:00 arriving in Mthatha at 07:30, with the return flight departing at 08:10, landing at in Johannesburg at 09:40. The afternoon flight will leave Johannesburg at 15:30 for a 17:00 arrival. The return flight will depart Mthatha at 17:40 and will arrive in Johannesburg at 19:10.
SA Express resumed services between OR Tambo International Airport and (JNB) in Johannesburg and Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha on 21 February 2019 after the Mthatha Airport’s brief suspension by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) last month.

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SA Express to resume flights between Johannesburg <> Mthatha!

South African regional carrier, SA Express, will resume its operations between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape starting 21 February 2019. The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is satisfied that the airport has addressed its shortcomings and the airport is open again for schedule services. SA Express will operate a daily service between Johannesburg and Mthatha between Sunday and Friday with the intention of increasing frequency in the coming weeks.

• Johannesburg 15:00 > 16:40 Mthatha
• Mthatha 17:10 > 18:40 Johannesburg

Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha was closed by the SACAA since 25 January 2019 due to the sub-standard rescue and firefighting response times, as well as a lack of aerodrome emergency management systems. 

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Airlink to resume flights between Johannesburg <> Mthatha!

South African regional carrier Airlink will resume flights between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape on 19 February 2019. The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is satisfied that the airport has addressed its shortcomings and the airport is open again for schedule services.
Airlink will provide early morning and late afternoon return flights using one of its Embraer 135, 37 seats regional jets Monday to Friday. An early morning flight will operate on Saturdays and an afternoon flight on Sundays. Additional flights will be added to the schedule as the route returns to normality.
Mthatha Airport (UTT) was closed by the SACAA since 25 January 2019 due to the sub-standard rescue and firefighting response times, as well as a lack of aerodrome emergency management systems. 

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Airlink temporarily suspends all flights between Johannesburg <> Mthatha!

South African regional carrier Airlink just announced that all flights between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape are suspended forthwith as there are no emergency services available at the airport, as notified by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). With immediate effect, the airline will close all flights for sale until the SACAA is satisfied that Mthatha Airport has addressed its shortcomings and the airport is open again for scheduled services. The suspension is directly attributable to the airport and therefore no flights can operate.

 Airlink to resume flights to Mthatha using a smaller aircraft! >>

South Africa: SA Express & Airlink temporarily suspend flights to Mthatha! >>

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Airlink to resume flights to Mthatha using a smaller aircraft!

South African regional carrier Airlink just announced that it will resume flights betweenOR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha on 28 January 2019. Due to the airport downgrade from Category 4 to Category 3 (Rescue and Fire Fighting Services) by the South African Aviation Authority (SACAA) earlier today (25 January 2019), the airline will temporarily provide three daily return flights using its 29 seat Jetstream 41 aircraft with restricted capacity. Affected passengers are advised to contact Airlink for further information. We'll keep you posted!

South Africa: SA Express & Airlink temporarily suspend flights to Mthatha! >>

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South Africa: SA Express & Airlink temporarily suspend flights to Mthatha! [update]

update (25 January 2019): Airlink to resume flights to Mthatha using a smaller aircraft! More info >>

The South African Aviation Authority (SACAA) has downgraded Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape from 25 January 2019 following a negative audit finding against it. This means that the airport is currently unable to accommodate safe scheduled passenger air services. Due to the downgrade, South African regional carriers SA Express and Airlink have both temporarily suspended flights between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Mthatha Airport. Affected passengers are advised to contact the airlines for further information. We'll keep you posted!

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South Africa: SA Express to launch flights between Johannesburg <> Mthatha!

South African regional carrier, SA Express, is set to launch scheduled flights between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape on 10 December 2018. From 10 December 2018 to 13 January 2019, the airline will operate one flight per day from Mondays to Fridays and on Sundays. Effective 14 January 2019 SA Express changes the schedule and will operate two flights per day on weekdays.

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SA Express to launch flights between Cape Town <> Mthatha!

South African carrier, SA Express, is set to launch direct flights between Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape on 01 December 2016.

screenshot via flyexpress.aero

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Airlink to increase flights between Johannesburg <> Mthatha!

South African carrier Airlink is set to introduce a third daily flight between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthatha on 05 September 2016. The airline will operate the additional flights from Monday to Friday; flights will depart Johannesburg at 12:00 and will arrive Mthatha at 13:15. Return flights will depart Mthatha at13:35 and will arrive in Johannesburg at 14:50. Afternoon flights have also been added on Saturdays and Sundays departing Johannesburg at 14:30 arriving at Mthatha at 15:45. The return flight will depart Mthatha at 16:30 arriving in Johannesburg at 17:45.

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Fly Blue Crane to launch flights between Johannesburg <> Mthatha! >>

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Fly Blue Crane to launch flights between Johannesburg <> Mthatha!

South African budget carrier Fly Blue Crane will launch scheduled services between Johannesburg (OR Tambo or Lanseria?) and Mthatha Airport (UTT) in Mthata on 01 October 2016. The airline will initially operate two flights per day on board a 50-seater Embraer Regional Jet 145 (ERJ) aircraft in a single class configuration.

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The Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha reopens today!

The Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthata in the Eastern Cape has been reopened today after a four-year closure for renovations. The reopening of the museum forms part of the International Mandela Day celebrations to celebrate former state president Nelson Mandela's birthday on 18 July. According to museum spokeswoman Noku-zola Tetani, the upgrade of the Bhunga Building, in which the museum is located, as well as the upgrade of the actual museum cost a total of R54-million.

The Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthata curates two sites - the actual Nelson Mandela Museum in the Bhunga Building in Mthata and the Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre in Qunu.

South Africa: Nelson Mandela's gravesite to be open to the public in the future

According to Ndileka Mandela, the oldest grandchild of the late Nelson Mandela, Madiba's gravesite in Qunu (Eastern Cape) would eventually be opened to the general public by his family in the future. No date has been set, although discussions about the matter with various sectors of the government as well as the ANC are already under way. Nelson Mandela, who died at the age of 95 in December 2013, is buried on a hill in his childhood Qunu homestead in rural Eastern Cape. Qunu is located about 30km south-west of Mthatha on the N2 between Butterworth and Mthatha.

The Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu (Eastern Cape, South Africa)

Following the death of Nelson Mandela on the 05 Dec 2013, the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu is expected to see an increase in the number of visitors, both local and international. The museum already opened its doors back in 2000 and offers a memorable cultural experience that gives insight into the life of Nelson Mandela. Guided tours are available as well as a heritage trail that follows Mandela's footsteps. Madiba never wanted the museum to be a tribute dedicated to him; instead he wanted the museum in Qunu to serve as a catalyst for the upliftment and development of the local community. Qunu will also be the final resting place of Nelson Mandela. He will be buried here on 15 December 2013.
The Nelson Mandela Museum is open daily from 09:00 – 16:00 except for Good Friday and Workers Day on 01 May. The museum does not charge any entrance fees, however donations are encouraged. As Qunu is a rather small town with limited accommodation options, travellers might consider rather to stay in Mthatha (32 km along the N2) or in Butterworth (92km along the N2).


View The Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu in a larger map

Three historical sites actually form part of the Nelson Mandela Museum projekt. The sites are at Mvezo, near Coffee Bay, where Mandela was born, the village of Qunu about 32 km outside Mthatha and the Bunga Building on Nelson Mandela Drive in central Mthatha, where the story of the life and times of one of South Africa's greatest leaders is depicted.

Nelson Mandela Museum to close for 2.5 years for major makeover

update (12 Oct 2011): According to a recent report on timeslive.co.za, the Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthata (Umtata) will only close its doors for a major makeover at the end of October 2011.

The Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthata (Umtata) will close for at least 2,5 years from August 2011 for a major makeover. The building, in which the museum is located, used to be the Transkei bantustan's administration headquarter during Apartheid and was therefore never designed to house a museum. After the facelift, the building will have a new spacious wing to showcase even more items as well as a more museum-like architecture.


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During the 2.5 years the museum in Mthatha is closed, some of the exhibits are going to get moved to Qunu, Mandela's birtplace, and some others will go on a South Africa-wide roadshow.
When the work is completed, items never displayed before from all over the world would join exhibits such as Mandela's iconic No 6 Springbok rugby jersey and the sunglasses he wore on Robben Island.