Mahikeng Airport or Mmabatho Airport is an airport serving Mahikeng and Mmabatho, the current and former capital cities of the North West province in South Africa. The airport is widely known as Mafikeng Airport after Mahikeng's former name. The airport is managed by the North West Province Department of Transport and Roads. The airport is a former air force base of the Boputhatswana Defence Force and was previously classified as an international airport. As of 2014, discussions and construction was in progress in order for the airport to regain its status as an international airport.The airport is used by private aircraft operators as passenger flights stopped in 2009 due to the airport failing to comply with various regulations. Scheduled commercial flights by SA Express resumed in 2015.FacilitiesThe airport resides at an elevation of 4181ft above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 04/22 with an asphalt surface measuring 4499x as well as asphalt taxiways.ExpansionAs of 2014, the airport is undergoing an expansion that includes re-marking runways and taxiways as well as installing a new instrument landing system that should allow Mahikeng airport to regain its international status. The cost of the expansion project was R15,000,000 with a further R30,000,000 being spent in order to ensure the project is completed within 2014. The expansion is intended to make Mahikeng airport a major cargo hub in the North West province that can be used to export various agricultural products produced within the province.
