Pilanesberg International Airport is a small Airport located in Pilanesberg, in the North West Province of South Africa. This Airport is located close to Sun City and the Pilanesberg National Park. The first Commercial flight took place on Friday 27 March 2015.
"The Pilanesberg Airport in the North West Province, which serves Sun City and other tourist attractions, is being rebuilt after a 2023 fire devastated it. The airport opened in 1981, specifically built to provide direct access to the then-new Sun City Resort and the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. Since then, it has become a gateway to the North West province and features a single asphalt runway that is approximately 2,750 meters long. The runway can accommodate large wide-body aircraft, including the Boeing 747, to support international events at Sun City.
The airport utilizes a pilot-controlled lighting system, activated via radio clicks on frequency 118.40 MHz, for night landings. It is uniquely positioned within an ancient alkaline volcanic crater, offering one of the most scenic approach paths in the country. While it was previously managed by the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), it was handed back to the North West Provincial Government in 2011.
On Tuesday, 29 August 2023, disaster struck when a fire devastated the Pilanesberg International Airport. Security personnel noticed smoke, and the fire was eventually traced to the top of a building near the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower. The thatched roof of the main terminal building caught alight, causing it to collapse and the structure to be completely gutted by flames. There were no fatalities or injuries. Two women working as air traffic controllers were the only ones inside the building at the time, and they managed to evacuate safely. The main terminal building, the airport manager’s office, and the boardroom were destroyed in the fire.
It was a catastrophic event that effectively halted major commercial operations at the international airport. (CHANGES SEEN IN THE PICTURES ABOVE)
The Pilanesberg Airport is getting rebuilt (LINK IN FURTHER READING)