PLZlarge airport

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport

Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa

Explore Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) city guide Navigate to this airport

Routes out

Destinations

ICAO

FAPE

Elevation

226 ft

The gateway in a glance

The Essence of Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport

PLZ

Location

Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) · EC · South Africa

Connectivity

9 routes · 4 destinations

Position

-33.990°, 25.617° · 226 ft elev.

Visa & Entry

Visa-free entry (many countries), eVisa (select countries)Official

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A closer look

Living guide content for Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport — read or listen in 46+ languages.

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TravelerPulse profile

Gateway to the Eastern Cape on South Africa's garden coast.

Opened

1934

Location

Gqeberha, South Africa

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport serves Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. It is one of the country's busiest regional airports, handling domestic routes to Johannesburg, Cape Town, and other major centres, as well as limited international services. The airport was renamed in November 2021 in honour of Chief Dawid Stuurman, a Khoikhoi resistance leader from the Eastern Cape. Previously known as Port Elizabeth Airport, the renaming was part of South Africa's broader post-apartheid transformation of place names. Operated by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), the facility supports the region's automotive industry hub, tourism to the Garden Route, and connections to nearby game reserves, making it a strategically important airport for the Eastern Cape economy.

Terminals

The airport operates a single main passenger terminal handling both domestic and international arrivals and departures.

Getting to & from

Ground transport options include metered taxis, shuttle services, and car hire, with the airport located approximately 5 kilometres from the city centre.

Airlines here

Major airlines operating at the airport include South African Airways, FlySafair, Airlink, and Cemair, primarily serving domestic routes.

Notable facts

›Renamed in November 2021 after Chief Dawid Stuurman, a Khoikhoi resistance leader.
›Operated by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).
›Located approximately 5 km from the Gqeberha city centre.
›Serves as a key access point for tourists visiting the Garden Route and Eastern Cape game reserves.
›The airport has an IATA code of PLZ, retained from its Port Elizabeth designation.

Official website Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (4 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Airlines serving this airport

British Airways

Mango

South African Airways

Routes

PLZ → DURBA · 733

PLZ → JNBBA · 733 734

PLZ → CPTBA · 733

PLZ → JNBJE · 733 738

PLZ → CPTJE · 733

PLZ → DURSA · CR2

PLZ → CPTSA · 733

PLZ → ELSSA · J41

PLZ → JNBSA · 319 320 733 738

Aircraft operating here

Boeing 737-3007 routes Boeing 737-8002 routes Boeing 737-4001 routes Canadair Regional Jet 2001 routes British Aerospace Jetstream 411 routes Airbus A3191 routes Airbus A3201 routes

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Where

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Passport, Visa & Immigration

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Encyclopaedia

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport is an airport serving Gqeberha, a city in the Eastern Cape province in South Africa. It was formerly known as H. F. Verwoerd Airport and Port Elizabeth International Airport. The airport is located approximately two miles south of the city's central business district.

Read full article on Wikipedia