By Mbongeni Mbingo | 2018-04-15

Friday the 13th is normally associated with bad luck, if you believe in superstition.

However, for Swaziland the Friday of April 13 will go down as the day the much anticipated state aircraft was delivered at the KMIII International Airport.

It arrived just in the nick of time, ahead of the celebrations marking the Golden Jubilee, and hailed as a historic moment by the Acting Prime Minister Paul Dlamini.

The buzz that filled the VIP Airport was one of sheer excitement as authorities, including those from the King’s Office, marvelled at the Airbus A340-300 which stood there monstrously. Ironically, it was parked next to the Siyinqaba, the King’s Jet that was the official ‘bicycle’ of His Majesty the King, which it dwarfed in comparison.

It was as if it was a statement of its own, the sheer size of this new state aircraft fitting the status of the head of state, and justifying the need for the country to go in search of a plane to cater for His Majesty the King’s international trips.

While cutting the expenses of leasing an aircraft, and also taking into account security threats and the condition and state of the plane, the arrival of the Airbus marks the departure from the continuous stop over for fuelling, short-stops that proved burdensome and long.

It is for this reason that the authorities, who also included Foreign Affairs Minister Chief Mgwagwa Gamedze and the Minister for Public Works and Transport Pastor Lindiwe Dlamini, could not have been more thrilled with the arrival of the aircraft, an impromptu press conference late into the night on Friday proof that the news could no longer be contained. Also in attendance during this hastily organised press conference were the Chief Executive Officer of the King’s Office Vincent Mhlanga and the Royal Swazi National Airways Chief Executive Officer President Dhlamini.

The Acting Prime Minister Paul Dlamini did his best to remain composed, but it was hard to disguise the fact this was the ultimate big news—and he was making the announcement.

“It is my honour, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, to inform the Nation that the State Aircraft has, today, been delivered to the King Mswati III International Airport at Sikhuphe,” Dlamini said at the start of the press conference.

The aircraft, he announced, is purchased from China Airlines.

“The transaction, approved by Parliament, meets the crucially important technical and operational requirements of a state aircraft,” the acting PM stated.

This Airbus A340-300 has a much longer flight range than the existing aircraft, Siyinqaba. The acting PM said this would remove the additional risks and financial costs of the more frequent landing and take-off requirements of the smaller aircraft.

“Furthermore, having purchased the A340-300 at an exceptionally competitive price, the cost will prove to be substantially lower than leasing or chartering a similar aircraft for the head of state’s international duties,” he added, further stating that this asset owned will have a residual value.

Dlamini further confirmed that the State aircraft is to be placed under the control of the Royal Swazi National Airways Corporation, which he said has been given the requisite human and technical skills to manage the security and use of the aircraft, ‘with all flight functions carried out by Swazi pilots and cabin crew specifically trained for the purpose.’

According to Dlamini, a team of engineers have been seconded by China Airlines to capacitate Swazi engineers.

State aircraft to be leased out

Government has confirmed that the State aircraft will be made available for private leasing—as and when available.

This was confirmed by the Acting Prime Minister Paul Dlamini when announcing the arrival of the Airbus A340-300 on Friday night at the KMIII International Airport.

Although the aircraft is for the head of state, it is an open secret that it is not used all the time, and as such, to minimise the travel costs the decision has been taken to offer it for private leasing or charter contracts by individuals.

However, these individuals would have to be of appropriate status, the acting PM stated.

“As with its predecessor, Siyinqaba, the State aircraft will, when not in use by our head of state, be available for private leasing,” he stated.

Dlamini paid tribute to Parliament for the pivotal role it played in the acquisition of the aircraft.

“May I further pass gratitude to the Swazi Nation for the support rendered throughout the process leading us to today,” he said.

Dlamini also thanked the Republic of China on Taiwan whose assistance in this purchase he said was highly appreciated.

 

“I now join my fellow Swazis in the appreciation of this historic moment, as we bring into service the replacement aircraft for the head of state air travel,” he said.

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