Bisho Airport (BIY)

Bisho Airport (FABE/BIY), also known as Bulembu Airport, is a civilian airport located 3 kilometers east of King William's Town in Bisho, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It serves the areas of Bhisho and King William's Town (Qonce).

Type of Facility and Operations: Bisho Airport is categorized as a civilian airport, primarily facilitating general aviation activities. It has an international-length asphalt runway (08/26) of 2,500 meters (8,202 ft) but is noted for having limited facilities for handling large passenger or cargo aircraft. The operations and facilities are considered basic and rudimentary, with no fuel available on-site. The control tower operates Monday to Friday from 0400-1600Z.

Notable Features or History: The airport's development dates back to the era when the area was part of Ciskei, a former Black Homeland under the Apartheid regime. From 1986 to 1989, it served as the hub for the short-lived Ciskei International Airways. Bisho Airport is owned and operated by the Government (Department of Transport – Eastern Cape).

The airport has undergone significant upgrades, including a R100 million investment that covered a revamp of the Air BP fuel depot, a completed terminal building, new security infrastructure, a new fire tender delivered in 2007, and rehabilitation of the runway along with the installation of a new instrument landing system. In April 2023, the airport received a R20 million upgrade funded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in preparation for a visit by the UAE President, an event that generated controversy due to its timing with the release of the Gupta family. Discussions and proposed upgrades to achieve international status for red-meat exports to the UAE continue, with activities involving UAE delegations raising questions about transparency.

Current Status: As of recent reports, the airport's operations are primarily general aviation, and it is considered a player to facilitate such activities. It stands 1,950 ft (594 m) above sea level. While the runway is ready for flight landing, the airport currently lacks the comprehensive operational facilities and systems to manage larger passenger or cargo aircraft, or to handle more than 1,000 passenger enplanements per month. There is no current flight arrival or departure information available from standard flight tracking services.