Eswatini
2.2 Eswatini Aviation

Key airport information may also be found at: http://worldaerodata.com/

The volume of passengers passing through the airport has over the years been around 60,000 per annum and commercial cargo at about 200 tons per year. There is only one air service provider, South African Airlink, which provides the only air connections between Eswatini and South Africa (Johannesburg). The target market has over the years been the corporate sector, charging high fares.

In terms of infrastructure, the King Mswati III International Airport (KM III IA), is the largest airport in the Kingdom with runway length of 3580 m. This airport can accommodate large and wide body aircraft such as the Boeing 777.  The airport has enough cargo facility and has cargo and ground handling agents. All commercial air traffic was transferred to this airport in 2014 when it was officially launched moving from the Matsapha airport. The Matsapha airport which is the second airport in the country is located at Matsapha and is mostly used for charter flights and private operations. It is a smaller airport than the KMIII IA with a runway length of 2,600 m. This is another airport which have access capacity for more charter flights, private operate and for use as a training academy.  The airport is strategically located close to the Matsapha industrial area and can be used for exports and imports.

The sector has also low general aviation activities. These include aerial works, crop spraying, pilot training, etc. There are quite few local aviators who have invested in this sector. The country also has no aviation maintenance organizations or aviation training organizations registered in Eswatini.

For aviation safety, security, economic and environment, the Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority has the overall oversight. It has a three solid Directorates responsible for the regulatory faction with qualified and experienced staff.  The oversight function is undertaken through professionally developed guidance material such as the aviation regulations, call circulators and orders issued by the Director General (CEO of ESWACAA) on the regular bases. In other words, there is a solid professional team of regulators which conduct oversight function on the sector to guarantee safe and secure operations and to ensure efficient and effectiveness of the sector.

The Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACAA) as per the Civil Aviation Act No. 10 of 2009 is the ultimate authority mandated to regulate the sector and operate the two airports, including the airstrip at Nhlangano in the Shiselweni region of the country. There is only one operator for scheduled operation, South African Airlink, on the KM III IA – JNB route. In addition, there is also Royal Swazi National Airways Corporation which is the national airline responsible to operate the State aircraft and manages a ticket office that sells airline tickets. In addition, they provide ground handling operations to other operators.  In the near future, they intend to engage themselves in schedule operation.

Eswatini has Aviation Associates which has been the only ground handler in the Kingdom for many years. There are listed in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) as the ground handler in Eswatini. Through the years, they have established themselves as one of the reputable companies that can handle all type and sizes of aircraft and any nature of operation be it private business and or state/diplomatic business.

The overall national capacity can be summarized broadly as follows:

  • Regulatory function: satisfactory since we have all the key Regulatory directorates, personnel, appropriate guidance material, robust procedures, equipment and budget to oversight the sector in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practice (SARPS).
  • Airport Operation: airports have qualified management which is able to manage and operate the airports in compliance to ICAO. As indicated above, the airports are operating below capacity and there is room to operate the airport to full capacity. This means that there is access capacity which can be explored immediately with the available facilities.
  • Ground handling services: the airports have ground handling equipment and agents that can service any aircraft on the ground. The ground handling agents have the requisite experience and expertise to conduct this function judging by the number and complexity of the operations they are handling.
  • Scheduled operation: There is room for more operators to invest in scheduled and charter operation since only two operators, Airlink and Royal Swazi, provide these. So, more investments are encouraged in this regard.
  • Land around KM III IA. Since at the new airport, KM III IA, there are no hangars, hotels, offices, etc, prospective investors are encouraged to consider investing around the airport area and this again presents an investment opportunity.
  • Matsapha airport and its surrounding land. Matsapha airport has been earmarked as an Aviation Training Academy. In addition, the airport can be used for private charter operation. This again present investment opportunities. The land around the airport can be utilized to establish a retail and housing estate and this present investment opportunities.
  • National Civil Aviation Policy. Eswatini has a civil aviation policy which encourages cooperation with the private sector towards its sustained development and growth.
  • Human Resource matters. Eswatini through its scholarship programme continues to train aviation personnel. Any new investments in the sector will allow the absorption of these graduates into the sector by generating the much-needed employment and through the multiplier effect will result in sustained economic growth and development.

Some of the significant constraints are as follows:

  • Serviceability of 4 fire trucks – the trucks are approaching their economic life and will need to be replaced. Funding is currently being sought from government and international partners.
  • Construction of the parallel Taxi way at KM III IA – This is not an immediate problem based on the current traffic volume. However, in the event traffic improves significantly, there will be needing to construct the parallel taxi way in the future.
  • Lack hydrant fueling line at KM III IA – In the absence of the hydrant fueling line, refueling at KM III IA is through bowsers.
  • This can delay operation if the aircraft is huge or if more aircraft need to refuel. Investments in this line is determined by the number, type and size of aircraft to be serviced.
  • Lack of office space and staff accommodation at KM III IA – There are serious efforts to engage government to provide budget for the construction of the office park and staff housing at KM III IA.

Despite all these constraints, the airport is fully operational and Jet A1 fuel is provided.

AIRLINES OPERATING 

The Eswatini government - through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport - holds a 60% controlling share in Eswatini Airlink (Manzini Matsapha), a joint venture company with Airlink (South Africa) (4Z, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo), which operates the flights on Eswatini Airlink's behalf. The airline currently has a 100% market share at Manzini Matsapha in terms of weekly seat capacity. It took over as Swaziland Airlink (SZL, Manzini King Mswati III Int'l) from Royal Swazi National Airways in 1999 and became Eswatini Airlink when the Kingdom changed its name in 2018.

Eswatini Air - the new regional airline brand of state-owned Royal Eswatini National Airways (RENAC) – plans to debut by the end of 2022 on Southern African regional routes using two EMB-145EPs. The airline was hoping to obtain its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) from the Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (EESWACAA) by the end of this March 2022.

As reported previously, RENAC last year purchased two 50-seater E145s previously operated by HOP! (France) (A5, Paris Orly). 3DC-EAA (msn 145043) were delivered to the Kingdom recently; and F-WTAF (msn 145152) currently in Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, South Africa for small refurbishments, whereafter it will reposition to Eswatini by April 2022.

Eswatini Air will operate as a regional airline, connecting from Manzini King Mswati III Int'l to four regional destinations initially: Johannesburg, Durban King Shaka, and Cape Town in South Africa; and Harare Int'l in Zimbabwe with exact frequencies yet been finalised.

The airline has no intercontinental aspirations but plan to gradually open more destinations in a three-to-four hour radius in the sub-Saharan region. It will seek to connect to major regional hubs, such as Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta and Kigali, and establish codeshares and interline partnerships with international airlines serving them. As the airline grows, it will extend its range and up-gauge but will aim to operate a simplified fleet for cost efficiency. 

Landing Application Form for the Kingdom of Eswatini (002).pdf

AC-AWS004- Application for Special Flight Permit.pdf

For more information on government agency and airport company contact information, please see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List.

Procedures for Foreign Registered Aircraft

The steps for the registration of foreign aircraft are as follows:

Step

Item

Guidance Document/CAA Action

Location

1.

Application

  • Civil Aviation Authority (Aircraft Registration and Marking) Regulations, 2011 b.
  • Advisory Circular-Aircraft. Registration Acceptance- AC-AWS001A
  • Application Form AC- AWS001-Application for certificate of registration
  • Application Form AC- AWS031-Particulars regarding the applicant
  • Application Form-O- AWS002C Aircraft Systems and Equipment Installation
  • Importation Guidance and Application Form-AC- AWS002AA

ESWACAA website www.eswacaa.co.sz

2.

Document Evaluation

Document evaluation and assessment

ESWACAA Offices

3.

Acceptance Inspection

Aircraft Acceptance Inspection Form (completed by CAA during an onsite inspection)

ESWACAA Offices and location of aircraft where ordinarily kept and maintained

4.

Registration of Aircraft

Document and physical inspection of aircraft

ESWACAA Offices


After aircraft registration aircraft will immediately be inspected for issuance of C of A.

Step

Guidance Document/CAA Action

Location

1.

  • Civil Aviation Authority (Approved Maintenance organizations) Regulations, 2011
  • Advisory Circular-Certification of Approved Maintenance Organizations -AC-AWS006A
  • Application Form AC-AWS006B- Application for Approved Maintenance Organization

 www.eswacaa.co.sz

2.

Document evaluation and assessment

ESWACAA Offices and physical inspection at AMO Maintenance Base

3.

  • Civil Aviation Authority (Airworthiness) Regulations, 2011 b.  Advisory Circular-Issue of C of A-AC-AWS002A
  • Application Form AC-AWS002A- Application for certificate of Airworthiness

www.eswacaa.co.sz

4.

Document evaluation and assessment

ESWACAA Offices

After aircraft registration aircraft will immediately be inspected for issuance of C of A.

Step

Item

Guidance Document/CAA Action

Location

1.

AMO Inspection (the AMO ordinarily maintaining the aircraft and must lodge an application at ESWACAA for Approval)

  • Civil Aviation Authority (Approved Maintenance Organizations) Regulations, 2011
  • Advisory Circular-Certification of Approved Maintenance Organizations-AC- AWS006A
  • Application Form AC-AWS006B- Application for Approved Maintenance Organization

www.eswacaa.co.sz

2.

Document Evaluation

Document evaluation and assessment

ESWACAA Offices and physical inspection at AMO Maintenance Base

3.

Application for C of A

  • Civil Aviation Authority (Airworthiness) Regulations, 2011
  • Advisory Circular- Issue of C of A- AC-AWS002A
  • Application Form AC-AWS002A- Application for certificate of Airworthiness

Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority – To the sky above let us fly! (eswacaa.co.sz)

www.eswacaa.co.sz

4.

Document Evaluation

Document evaluation and assessment

ESWACAA Offices

Documents for the above are available on the ESWACAA website and additional documents are obtained from ESWACAA Offices.

For more information on procedures for foreign registered aircraft, please see the following attachments:


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