ATNS suspension of flight procedures cripples travel at Kruger International Airport

Banele Ginindza

The Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) says it could take at least two weeks to restore suspended Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs) at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA), a move that has severely disrupted air travel and tourism just as South Africa’s holiday season begins to peak.

Aviation company Airlink has raised alarm over ATNS’ recent suspension of additional IFPs affecting KMIA, compounding the impact of a broader nationwide suspension of 226 IFPs since July 2024. That suspension followed ATNS’s failure to submit paperwork required to renew the procedures’ validity, and more than 200 of those remain withdrawn.

The Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT) has echoed Airlink’s concerns, warning that the ongoing suspensions—part of a mandatory recertification process under the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)—have triggered widespread flight delays, diversions, and cancellations, disrupting the travel plans of thousands of passengers.

The situation comes amid heightened safety concerns, with SACAA’s Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) confirming it is collecting evidence from three recent plane crashes linked to poor visibility. The wreckages were discovered in Barberton, Mpumalanga, and the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

ATNS spokesperson Mphilo Dlamini confirmed that two IFPs for Runway 05 at KMIA had been suspended to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and the organisation’s Safety Management System.

"To lift the suspension of these procedures, ATNS wishes to inform industry stakeholders, passengers, that it has submitted an exemption application to the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)," Dlamini said.

"As soon as the exemption application has been approved by the SACAA, the procedures will be available for operational use. It is expected that a response from the regulator will be received in the next two weeks. In the interim, flight operations to this airport may be disrupted, particularly during adverse weather conditions."

Airlink at the weekend confirmed severe disruption of its scheduled air services to and from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA), Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay and Mthatha, which it attributed to the failure of the ATNS to timeously maintain the validity of those airports’ IFPs.

In commercial airline operations, pilots are legally obligated to follow IFPs, which are published charts with annotated instructions illustrating and describing the stipulated speeds, direction and altitudes aircraft should follow when taking off or approaching to land at an airport. 

The airline said as a result of the suspension numerous flights have either been delayed, diverted or cancelled, affecting over 3 000 passengers – including many tourists visiting the Kruger National Park and other prime tourist attractions in the Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.  

“Under normal circumstances our flights to and from these destinations would be permitted to operate in the present summer weather.  However, the suspension of the IFPs places severe limitations on flights,” Airlink CEO, de Villiers Engelbrecht said.

Oupa Pilane, Special Attaché to the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT), called for accelerated action to address the ongoing suspension of IFPs at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA). 

"The Kruger Lowveld region is a cornerstone of South Africa’s tourism industry, drawing visitors from across the globe to experience the unparalleled beauty of the Kruger National Park and our rich cultural heritage, these disruptions risk deterring tourists and harming our local economy, which relies heavily on seamless access through KMIA," Pilane said.

"We urgently call on ATNS and SACAA to expedite the recertification process to restore full flight operations and ensure that our visitors can travel without interruption."

The KLCBT said the temporary suspension, initiated by ATNS as part of a mandatory recertification process under the SACAA, has caused significant flight delays, diversions, and cancellations, impacting thousands of travelers.

Pilane emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to minimize the impact on tourism, a vital driver of jobs and economic growth in Mpumalanga.

"To every visitor whose plans have been affected, we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused," he said.

"Your passion for exploring our region is what fuels our communities, and we are committed to restoring the warm, hassle-free welcome that the Kruger Lowveld is known for. We ask for your patience and understanding as we work tirelessly to resolve this issue."

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