Transport Minister Jeff Radebe and Eastern Cape Transport MEC Thobile Mhlahlo have launched the Blue Skyway Aviation Initiative at the Bhisho airport.

The launch marked the first official use of the airport at Bulembu outside of King William's Town, built 20 years ago by Lennox Sebe, then ruler of the Ciskei homeland.

The Blue Sky Aviation Initiative will see the introduction of two 30 minute flights per day between Bhisho and Mthatha. In the first month the service will be used mainly by government officials at a cost of R200,000.

Mhlahlo said the initiative was taken to revive the Bhisho Airport.

According to a report prepared by Civil Aviation on behalf of the Bhisho government, the turn-around strategy for the Bhisho Airport will also include a pilot training centre, a new refueling facility, new instrument landing systems of R8-million and complete renovation of the buildings.

The draft strategy makes no mention of the cost of the renovation of the buildings, but the cost of the upgrade of the fire station will be R1-million and to operate the control tower will cost R1,1-million a year. The new instrument landing system is estimated at R8-million.

The report states that all electrical systems on the runway will have to be overhauled at an estimated cost of R1-million while runway markings will have to be repainted at R800,000.

The turnaround strategy makes mention of 43 Air School in Port Alfred expanding its advanced flight training to the airport as soon as consensus has been reached on a monthly or yearly rental. The precondition would be that Air BP provide the airport with a new refueling facility.

A private company will market the airport as a destination for private flights.

Government earlier announced that it plans to set up a public-private partnership to run the airport. Expressions of interest were advertised last year, but despite promises to announce final plans in April this year, nothing has come of it.

Other plans include relocating the police air wing to the airport. The strategy will be presented to the Bhisho portfolio committee on roads and transport.