LANSERIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT'S SERIOUS PROBLEMS
African Pilot|December 2022
From humble beginnings as a grass strip airfield in 1974, to welcoming former President Nelson Mandela to Johannesburg after his release from prison, all the way to welcoming dignitaries and celebrities alike the airport has had its fair share of glory and continues in its path to greatness.
ATHOL FRANZ
LANSERIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT'S SERIOUS PROBLEMS

Over the years the airport ver the continued expand exponentially. However, as we all know the COVID pandemic shut down nearly all airports as far as passenger flights were concerned at the start of 2019. This is the story of how to destroy what was once a thriving General Aviation International Airport that became an alternative to Johannesburg's main ACSA OR Tambo International Airport. In order to gain some insight to Lanseri International Airport (LIA) I visited the official website, which is clearly years out of dat and also contains factual errors, which is another reflection on LIA's management.

History of Lanseria

To build the busiest airport in the country was an idea sparked by two aviation enthusiasts (Fanie Haacke and Abe Sher) in the 70's. In 1974 the dream became a reality and work began to build Johannesburg's alternative international airport, with a mere investment of R2,7 million.

The residents of the area were not too excited about the prospect of having a noisy airport on the boarders of their peaceful farming land. They formed a committee and protested against the development, which regularly made front page news. However, the Minister of Planning, Mr JJ Loots confirmed the need for a new airport on 6 June 1972 and said the new facility would rival the only other large airport at the time, Jan smuts. Just two years later, the airport opened its doors to privately operated aircraft. Developed under the auspices of the then Krugersdorp and Roodepoort municipalities, LIA was soon awarded the international status.

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