Richards Bay Airport is an airport in Richards Bay, South Africa. It is independently managed and not part of the network of larger airports operated by the parastatal Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).The Airport is managed by Indiza Airport Management, and is currently headed up by Manager Alvin Naidoo. The Airport is also home to one of the only Aviation Maintenance Companies in the Northern Natal Province, Alton Aero Engineering. South African Express Airways currently fly the only scheduled flight service in and out of Richards Bay, using a fleet of Bombardier Dash 8-Q300 series aircraft.In late 2011, after much speculation, it was confirmed that the airport would undergo a major upgrade that would render the airport's status as International. The expansion project however, has been put on hold pending an outcome to the issue of the local township of Mandlanzini, with residents having settled in the path of the intended runway extension. The upgrade comes at a crucial time, with South African Express Airways phasing out the Dash 8 Q300 aircraft. The fleet will be replaced with the new Q400 series aircraft, which is unable to operate out of Richards Bay Airport due to the limitations of the runway and taxiway infrastructure. It is expected that South African Express Airways will continue to operate a handful of Q300 aircraft until the expansion at Richards Bay Airport has been completed.
