Region
Limpopo
Polokwane Municipality
South Africa

Sector
Transportation

Summary:

Polokwane International Airport is currently being touted as a cargo hub for the SADC region, however retailers are now also being urged to consider locating at the airport as the management group focus on increasing the number of visitors.

Contact
Sipho Mthombeni

Email
siphogm@gmail.com

Retailers looking to cash in on the latest buzz in Limpopo should consider the newly-revamped airport.

Polokwane International Airport, which was relaunched in October last year after having undergone a complete makeover, is pursuing an agressive strategy to attract more passengers, retailers and businesses to the region.

Gateway Airports Authority Limited (GAAL), the parent group behind Polokwane International, has already identified the need to position the airport as a cargo hub to attract logistics and freight business, however there are also a number of opportunities closer to home.

GAAL is aiming to provide a more quality-based travel experience for its customers in safe, secure and relaxed environment, which it believes will encourage people to increase their retail spend in the airport.

Sipho Mthombeni, chief executive of GAAL, says “We believe developments in and around Polokwane International Airport are key in terms of our strategic location within the region.”

Mthombeni adds that GAAL is now pursuing a strategy of stimulating Real Estate and Commercial development around the airport precinct area as part of a wider effort to increase trade and development in the region.

GAAL welcomes interest from all retailers, but is also specifically looking for a concessionaire for a restaurant, as well as strong anchor concessionaires for both restaurants and retail as well as in the freight business.

Why should retailers choose Polokwane International?

• New Terminal building accommodates more passengers, hence an increase in foot traffic within the Terminal
• GAAL following a clear strategy to increase retail spend in airport
• Plans to create more airside space to provide a relaxed shopping environment
• Airport committed to providing excellent service quality
• Safe and secure facilities, encouraging people to spend
• GAAL plans to offer better deals and choices to concessionaires

Polokwane the new cargo hub of SA

In addition GAAL is also pursuing its previously stated strategy of positioning itself as a cargo hub for the southern African region, and is currently urging freight and logistics companies to get in touch.
newest cargo hub.

The new airport, which comes in time to capitalise on both the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the Confederations Cup this year, has been designed to accommodate increased traffic, with more than 200,000 passengers a year now able to flow through the airport.

With its excellent strategic location between Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, as well as its close proximity to South Africa’s economic capital Gauteng, Polokwane Airport is ideally located to capture freight traffic.

“We see the airport as a catalyst for economic development not only for Polokwane, but for the Limpopo province and the surrounding SADC countries,” says Sipho Mthombeni, chief executive of GAAL.

For more information on opportunities for retailers at Polokwane International Airport:
Contact: Sipho Mthombeni
Email: siphogm@gmail.com
Tel: +27 15 288 0122