Wonderboom Airport
Wonderboom Airport, located north of Tshwane, has humble beginnings as a civil airstrip for light aircraft. Built on a Wonderboom farm in 1937, it was used temporarily for military training during World War II.
The facility now handles general aviation flights for light aircraft and helicopters and is used as a flight school centre for private trainers and various flying and sky-diving clubs in Gauteng.
Once the base for the Pretoria Light Aircraft Company (PLACO) and the Pretoria Flying Club, Wonderboom Airport became the foremost training facility for pilots of both the Royal Air Force and SA Air Force during the war. It was far from the war zone and offered good weather conditions for new pilots.
Once the war ended, the airport was used for chartered flights and pilot training. A number of airport upgrades followed, including an extended runway, a new terminal building, hangars and landing lights, and the facility widened its range of services by including pilot workshops.
The improved facility meant the airport was well equipped to receive its first Boeing 737 in 1982. In 1993, the runway was again upgraded to its present length of 1 828m.
During the 1980s, the airport became the base for one of the biggest parachute clubs in South Africa.
Today it offers flights for chartered aircraft, mail delivery craft and sky-divers alike.
Towards the end of 2000, the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality was established and ownership of the airport passed to Pretoria.
In 2007, plans for a scheduled passenger service from Wonderboom Airport were mooted. With a view to preparing for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ visitors, the municipality spent R165.5-million on an airport upgrade to accommodate passenger flights.
The improved infrastructure includes arrivals and departure halls, a porte-cochere with kiosks, and a public transport facility developed for tour buses and mini-bus taxis. The airport parking facility has also been upgraded.
In July 2009, the airport announced that flights to Cape Town, Polokwane and Durban would commence in October that year, operating under the independent Interlink Airlines.
Passenger flights, as well as general aviation and helicopter flights, commenced later that year.
Wonderboom Airport was used extensively during the World Cup, as an alternate airport for VIP guests, heads of state and foreign dignitaries.
Following the loss of one of Interlink’s aircraft, the independent airline temporarily suspended scheduled passenger flights. However the facility is still used daily for regular air flights and remains open for domestic air travel.