Maseru
This week, Airlink announced the suspension of its daily flight services between Johannesburg and Maseru, citing inadequate serviceable and rescue equipment at Moshoeshoe IInternational Airport as the primary reason for this decision.
The airline had specifically highlighted issues with a fire truck that experienced technical problems, thus raising concerns about the safety and operational standards at the airport.
In response to Airlink’s announcement, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport stated that the problematic fire truck had been repaired, suggesting that the necessary measures to rectify the situation had been taken.
However, the ministry acknowledged the significant inconvenience caused to both the airline and its passengers due to this disruption.
The minister also admitted that while this incident Posedchallenges for air travel, and it also, on a lighter note, served as a catalyst for implementing improved protocols and acquiring essential resources to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
It is important to note that this is not the first instance of flight suspensions; in December 2024, Airlink had also halted operations for a day due to similar safety concerns regarding the airport’s equipment.
The events of this week, therefore, raised serious questions about the management practices at Moshoeshoe IInternational Airport, as once highlighted by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report released earlier this year.
The report had pointed out the urgent need for the airport to adhere to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, particularly in terms of safety equipment and operational readiness—a warning that appears to have gone unheeded.
The ICAO standards emphasise the critical importance of prioritising fire and rescue equipment as an integral part of ensuring a safe and efficient airport environment.
The lack of such essential equipment, according to the organisation, not only jeopardises the safety of passengers but also reflects poorly on the management and operational capabilities of the airport and the oversight of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
These recurring incidents paint a bad picture of the only international airport Lesotho has, that had also been turned into a money cow over constructions that never really happened.
Thanks to the interference of the PAC, the real construction and remodelling work of the airport was taken seriously and is still underway, with specific components like the structural steel for roofing expected to be completed in the next financial year after facing delays.
These renovations are part of the effort to modernise the airport and transform it into an economic free zone capable of accommodating larger aircraft.
