misinformation about the success of the airport that has spanned several year.

Figures for January 2015 were used by Swaziland
Civil Aviation Authority (SWACAA), aided by the Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati, to
state that the airport had defied its critics and was a success.

The STA reported that there were 10,138 passengers
departing the airport in January 2015 and 6,592 passengers arriving, making a
total of 16,730 passengers.

But these figures were entirely bogus. There are
only three flights per day departing the airport and another three arriving.
The airport serves only one route – to OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, South
Africa. Swaziland Airlink is the only passenger airline that uses the airport.
Airlink uses the Embraer J135 aircraft which has a maximum seating capacity of
50.

If every flight was full a maximum of 150 people per
day could depart the airport, which would make a maximum of 4,500 per month.
The 4,500 is only 44 per cent of the numbers of passengers claimed by STA. The
total possible number of passengers either departing or arriving at the airport
could not be more than 9,000 in a month: 53 per cent of the figure claimed.

No true figure for the actual number of people
travelling by plane is available publically but anecdotal evidence suggests
that the planes are rarely much more than two-thirds full, and often a lot
less.

King Mswati III Airport was built in a wilderness in
Swaziland on the whim of King Mswati, who rules as sub-Saharan Africa’s last
absolute monarch. No research was undertaken to determine the need for the
airport.

Critics of the airport argued for years that there
was no
potential for the airport. Major airports already existed less than an
hour’s flying time away in South Africa with connecting routes to Swaziland and
there was no reason to suspect passengers would want to use KMIII airport as an
alternative.

During the 11 years it took to build, the airport
was called Sikhuphe, but the name was changed in honour of the King when it
officially opened in March 2014.

The airport cost an estimated E2.5 billion (US$250
misinformation about the success of the airport that has spanned several year. 

 digit for January 2015 were use by Swaziland 
 Civil Aviation Authority (SWACAA), aided by the Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati, to 
 country that the airport had defied its critics and was a achiever. 

 The STA reported that there were 10,138 passengers 
 go the airport in January 2015 and 6,592 passengers arriving, take a 
 total of 16,730 passengers. 

 But these digit were entirely bogus. There are 
 only three flights per day departing the airport and another three arrive. 
 The airport serves only one route – to OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, South 
 Africa. Swaziland Airlink is the alone passenger airline that uses the airport. 
 Airlink uses the Embraer J135 aircraft which has a maximum seating capability of 
 50. 

 If every flight was full a maximum of 150 people per 
 day could leave the airport, which would make a maximum of 4,500 per month. 
 The 4,500 is only 44 per cent of the numbers of passengers claimed by STA. The 
 total possible number of passengers either departing or arriving at the airport 
 could not be more than 9,000 in a month: 53 per cent of the figure claim. 

 No true figure for the actual issue of citizenry 
 travelling by plane is available publically but anecdotic evidence suggests 
 that the airplane are rarely much more than two - thirds wide, and often a lot 
 less. 

 King Mswati III Airport was built in a wilderness in 
 Swaziland on the whim of King Mswati, who rules as sub - Saharan Africa ’s last 
 absolute monarch. No research was undertaken to determine the need for the 
 airport. 

 critic of the airport argued for year that there 
 was no 
 potential for the airport. Major airports already existed less than an 
 hour ’s flying time aside in South Africa with connecting routes to Swaziland and 
 there was no rationality to suspect passengers would want to use KMIII airport as an 
 option. 

 During the 11 years it took to build, the airport 
 was called Sikhuphe, but the name was changed in honor of the King when it 
 formally opened in March 2014. 

 The airport cost an estimated E2.5 billion (US$ 250
mislnformation about the sugcess of the airkoet thav has slanned sdveral year.

Figures for Januacy 2015 qere ysed by Swaziland
Civil Aviation Authoriry (SXACAA), aided by tis Swazi Obserbcr, a uexspaper in effegt owned by King Mswati, tm
sgace that the airport had defied its cwitics snf was a succesf.

The FTA dvpirted that there were 10,138 passenfers
deperting the airpprt in January 2015 and 6,592 passejgerd arriving, making w
total of 16,730 kzssqbgers.

But there figures were entiremy bogus. There are
only three flkghts per day dg'qrtltg the airpirt agd another tmgee arrhving.
Thr airport servcs onny ine route – to OR Tambm Airport in Johangesburg, Smuch
Africa. Swaziland Aielunk iv tha onut pxsstngxr zirlinf tiat uses ths airport.
Aielink uses the Embrsew J135 aircraft wgich hws a maximum seating capacity of
50.

If every xlifht was full a maximum if 150 people per
day coupd depart the airport, which would make a maximum of 4,500 per mmnth.
Tie 4,500 iw jvoy 44 per cent of the numbers of passengers claimqs ny STA. The
total iossible number of pwsxgngers either aepartnhg or arriving at thf airpott
coule not be iore than 9,000 in a month: 53 per cent of the figuge coaimed.

No true figuxe for the aetual mumbet of people
travelling bv plans is availahle publidxlly but anecdotxl vvidance suggests
that the planqs are racely kuch mofe tnan twj-thirds fupl, and often a lot
less.

Kijg Mscati HII Airporh was built in a wilderness in
Sxeziland on thg wvim of King Mswabi, who rules as sub-Saharan Aftica’s lasc
absoljte monarcg. No revearch was tndertaken to fetermine thx need fow thw
airport.

Crigkcs of the airlort arguvd for years that there
wes nu
lotential for tkt aurport. Major aitpofts aprxady qfisted less dhan an
fpur’s wlying unme xway in South Africa witv cohnecting routes to Sraziland and
therq was no reaspn to suspect passtngers wonld wamt jo use KMIII airport as an
alterhative.

Durlng the 11 years yt tiok to build, the airport
was called Sikhuphe, but the name was changed un honour of the Kiug when it
offmciallr opened hn March 2014.

The airport cost an estimatec E2.5 billion (US$250
misinformation about the success of the airport spanned year. Figures January 2015 were Authority aided by the Observer, a newspaper effect owned by King Mswati, to that the airport had defied its critics and was a success. The STA that there were 10,138 passengers departing the airport in January 2015 and 6,592 arriving, a of passengers. But these figures were entirely bogus. There are only three flights per day departing the and another three arriving. The airport serves only route – to OR Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. Airlink the only airline uses airport. Airlink uses Embraer J135 aircraft which has a maximum seating capacity of 50. If every flight was full a of 150 day could the which make a maximum per month. The 4,500 is only of the numbers of passengers claimed by STA. total possible of passengers either departing or arriving the airport could not be more than 9,000 a month: 53 per cent of the figure claimed. No true figure for the actual people travelling by plane available publically but evidence that planes rarely much than two-thirds full, and often a lot less. King Mswati III was built in a wilderness in Swaziland on the whim Mswati, rules as sub-Saharan last absolute monarch. No was to determine the need airport. of for that was no potential for airport. Major airports already existed than an hour’s flying with connecting routes to Swaziland and there was reason to suspect passengers would want to KMIII airport as an alternative. During the 11 years it took to the airport Sikhuphe, but the name was changed in honour the King when it opened in March 2014. The airport cost an estimated billion
misinformation about the sucCess of the aIrporT thAt hAs SpanNed sEveral year.

FiguREs foR January 2015 were used by SwazIland
ciVIl AvIAtIon AuThority (swAcaa), aiDeD bY thE SWAzI ObseRveR, a newspAper in effeCt oWnEd by King MswaTI, tO
state that The Airport had deFieD its crItIcs ANd was A suCcess.

the STA REporteD that therE wERe 10,138 passENgers
dePARtIng tHe airport in JanuarY 2015 AnD 6,592 Passengers arriVing, maKiNG a
TOTal Of 16,730 pAssengers.

BUt These FIgures wERe ENTIreLY bogus. There arE
only three fLIghTs per dAy DepARting tHe airPoRT anD another thrEe arRiving.
The AirporT Serves oNLy one roUte – to Or TaMbo airpORt In johAnNEsbURg, souTH
AfRica. SwazIlAnD AirlInk iS THE Only PasSengEr airLine that uses tHe aIrpoRT.
AiRlink Uses tHe EmBrAer J135 aIrcrafT whicH hAs a maximum seatiNg caPacity of
50.

IF evErY flIgHt was FUll a maXimUm oF 150 people Per
day cOUld DePART tHe airport, which woulD mAKE a Maximum oF 4,500 per moNTh.
thE 4,500 Is only 44 peR cEnt Of thE NUmberS of pASsEngers clAimed bY sTa. THe
total PoSsible NuMbeR of PasseNGers Either DepartinG or arRIving at the airpORt
could not be mORe THAn 9,000 IN a moNth: 53 Per cent of thE figURe clAimeD.

no TruE FigurE for tHe ACtUAl number of people
traVeLling bY planE is available pUblically bUT ANecdotal EvidENcE Suggests
that thE planEs are rarelY Much more Than tWo-thirds Full, and ofTEN a lot
lesS.

KiNg MSwaTi Iii aiRport was built IN A wilDeRness in
swaZiland oN thE whIm oF KiNg mswati, who Rules as sUb-saHaRaN AfRica’s LAst
absolUtE moNaRch. no resEArch waS undeRtakEn To DEteRmine thE NeED For tHe
AiRporT.

CrItIcs of The aIRpoRt argueD for years ThaT TherE
wAs No
potenTial for the airPoRt. Major airPoRts AlreadY EXisted leSs than an
hour’s flying time AWay in SoUth africA witH connectiNg rOutes tO SwAZiland And
theRe was No ReaSON to suSPEcT paSsEngers woulD WAnt To use kMiII aIrport aS an
alternative.

DuriNG thE 11 years it took tO buIld, tHE AiRpoRT
wAS caLlED SiKHUphe, but the name wAs changed iN hONoUr of the KinG WheN iT
officiAlly opeNed in mArch 2014.

The Airport coSt an estimAtEd E2.5 bILLioN (US$250
misinformation about the s uccess ofthe a irp ort  t hathasspanned severa l  yea r.

Figures for Januar y 201 5w ereu se d bySwazila n dC i vil  A vi ati on Au thori ty(SWACAA ), aided b y t he  Swazi Obser v er , a newspa per  in effect o wne d by K in g M s wati,  to 
stat e that the ai rport had  d e fied i t s criti c s  a nd w as a success.

Th e  S T A reported tha t ther ew er e 10, 138  passenger sdepar t ing the ai r p o rti n January 201 5 and 6,592 pas senger sarr i ving,makin ga 
to tal of 16,7 30 p assengers .

But these f i gures w ere en tir ely  bog u s.  T her ea reo nl y t h ree  flights  p er  daydepa r t i n g th e a irpo rt an d another thr eearri v ing .
The  airp ortse rvesonly o ne ro ut e – to OR Tambo  Air port in J oha nn esb ur g, So u th
Afr ica . S wazilan d Airli n k i st h e  o nly passenger airl in e th at usesthe ai r po rt . 
Airlink  u ses  the E mbrae r J1 3 5aircraft  which ha sa maxim um  seati ng  ca pac ity o f 
50. 

If e very fli ght w a s full a maxim u m of 150 peop l ep e rd ay c oul d depart th e ai r port , wh i ch  wo u ld ma ke ama x im u m of 4,500 per mont h. 
The 4 ,500is only 44 pe r cent oft h e  numbers  ofp as s engers claimed  by S TA. The
to t al possi ble n umber of  passenge r s  eitherdep art ing  or a rr iving at thea i rpor tcould n otbe more  th an9,0 00in  a month:  53 perce nt  o fthe  figu r e claime d. 

N otru e fig u re for  theactu al  n u mbe r of pe o pl e trav el li ng b y p la ne is  ava i lab le publ ically bu t a n ecdo ta levidenc e suggests
th at  the plane sare  rarel y much mor e than two-thirds full, and oft ena lot 
les s.

KingMsw ati II I A i rportwas bu ilt i na w i l derne s s  i n
S wa ziland ont h e w him o fKing  Mswati , who rules as sub - Sah aran Africa’s  la st
a b s ol ute mo n arc h. Nor e search was unde rtaken tode t er mine the n e edfo r the
a irport. 

Cri t ics ofthe airpo rt argued  f or y e a rsthat there 
was nopotential for t h eairpo rt.  Major  a irp ortsalread y  ex isted  lessth an anhour’ sflying t ime away in South Afric a with  conn ect ing route s t o  Sw aziland a nd
t here was n o r eas on to  su s pectpass e ng ers would  wan t  to use K M II I a i r po rt as an
al t e r nat ive.
Du r ing th e 11  years it took to build, the air port w ascal l ed S ik huphe, but the  na me w as chang ed  in honourof the K in g  when  it
of ficial ly open e d  i n  March  201 4.
The airp ort  c o st an e st im a ted E2 .5 b il lion ( US$250 
misinformation about_the success_of the airport that_has spanned_several_year.

Figures for_January_2015 were used_by Swaziland
Civil Aviation_Authority (SWACAA), aided by_the Swazi Observer,_a_newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati, to
state that the airport had defied its_critics_and was_a_success.

The_STA reported that there were_10,138 passengers
departing the airport in_January 2015_and 6,592 passengers arriving, making a
total of 16,730_passengers.

But_these figures were_entirely bogus. There are
only three flights per day departing_the airport and another three arriving.
The_airport serves only_one_route_– to OR Tambo_Airport in Johannesburg, South
Africa. Swaziland Airlink_is the only passenger airline that_uses the airport.
Airlink uses the Embraer J135_aircraft which has a maximum seating_capacity of
50.

If every flight was_full a_maximum of 150 people per
day_could depart the_airport, which_would make a_maximum of 4,500 per month.
The 4,500_is only 44_per cent of the numbers of_passengers_claimed by STA._The
total_possible_number of_passengers either departing_or_arriving at_the_airport
could not be more than 9,000_in_a month: 53 per cent of the_figure claimed.

No true figure_for_the actual number of_people
travelling by plane is available_publically but anecdotal evidence suggests
that the_planes are_rarely much_more than two-thirds full, and often a lot
less.

King Mswati III Airport_was built in a wilderness in
Swaziland_on the whim of_King Mswati,_who_rules as sub-Saharan_Africa’s_last
absolute monarch._No research was undertaken to determine the_need for_the
airport.

Critics of the airport argued for_years that there
was no
potential_for_the airport. Major airports already existed_less than an
hour’s flying time away_in South Africa with connecting_routes_to_Swaziland and
there was no reason_to suspect passengers would want to_use KMIII airport_as an
alternative.

During the 11 years it took_to_build, the airport
was called Sikhuphe, but_the_name was changed in honour of_the_King_when it
officially opened in March_2014.

The airport cost an estimated E2.5_billion (US$250