Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport — Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa
← Looking for a different airport? Search hereThe airport code for Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)) is PLZ — its ICAO code is FAPE.
Distance & flight time from PLZ
Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport
Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, still widely identified by its IATA code PLZ, serves Gqeberha on South Africa's Eastern Cape coastline, a metro that carried the name Port Elizabeth until recent renaming efforts took hold across the country. The airport followed suit, dropping its old name to honor Dawid Stuurman, a Khoikhoi chief who resisted Dutch and later British colonial rule in the early nineteenth century and was ultimately exiled to Australia for his defiance. Positioned near Algoa Bay, the single-runway facility handles steady domestic traffic to Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, plus a handful of regional links to smaller Eastern Cape towns. Gqeberha anchors South Africa's automotive manufacturing belt, with several major vehicle plants nearby, so PLZ carries as much business travel as leisure traffic bound for the Garden Route and Addo Elephant National Park. Locals still call the city the Windy City, a nod to the persistent coastal gusts sweeping across the runway.
Runways at Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ)
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26 | 7087 ft (2160 m) | 151 ft (46 m) | ASP |
| 17/35 | 5502 ft (1677 m) | 151 ft (46 m) | ASP |
Radio frequencies for Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ)
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| APP | APP | 120.4 MHz |
| ATIS | ATIS | 112.9 MHz |
| CLNC | Clearance Delivery | 122.1 MHz |
| GTE | APRON | 122.65 MHz |
| TWR | TWR | 118.1 MHz |
Airports near Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ)
- Bisho Airport (BIY) — 196.3 km (122.0 mi)
- Plettenberg Bay Airport (PBZ) — 211.2 km (131.2 mi)
- King Phalo Airport (ELS) — 230.6 km (143.3 mi)
- Queenstown Airport (UTW) — 258.6 km (160.7 mi)
- George Airport (GRJ) — 298.5 km (185.5 mi)
- Oudtshoorn Airport (OUH) — 319.6 km (198.6 mi)
- K. D. Matanzima Airport (UTT) — 394.2 km (244.9 mi)
- Port St Johns Airport (JOH) — 451.0 km (280.2 mi)
PLZ lies just inland from Algoa Bay at low elevation, operates a single runway, and connects Gqeberha to South Africa's three largest cities plus regional Eastern Cape destinations.
FAQ
What is the IATA code for Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport?
The IATA code for Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport is PLZ.
What is the ICAO code for Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport?
The ICAO code for Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport is FAPE. IATA codes are 3 letters used for baggage tags and booking; ICAO codes are 4 letters used by air traffic control and pilots.