Airports / South Africa / PLZ
Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport.
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa · 226 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
FAPE
IATA PLZ
0
Operators based
226
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
106 nm
To the nearest alternate
Bisho Airport (BIY).
Overview
Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (FAPE / PLZ) is a large commercial airport serving Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa. The field lies at an elevation of 226 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
PLZ has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include Bisho Airport (BIY, 106 nm), Plettenberg Bay Airport (PBZ, 114 nm), and King Phalo Airport (ELS, 125 nm). PLZ offers 2 runways, the longest 7,087-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
Quotes for flights out of PLZ vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as H. F. Verwoerd Airport and Port Elizabeth International Airport. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from PLZ, or browse verified operators serving the area.
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Field capability
ICAO
FAPE
IATA
PLZ
FAA / Local
FAPE
Elevation
226 ft
Coordinates
33.9897° S · 25.6174° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs South Africa fields
state range 20–5,700 ft
At 226 ft, PLZ sits lower than 87% of the 62 South Africa fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 7,087 ft
- 08/267,087 ft × 151 ftAsphaltLighted
- 17/355,502 ft × 151 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 7,087 ft
PLZ's 7,087 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 106nmBIYBisho AirportBisho
- 114nmPBZPlettenberg Bay AirportPlettenberg Bay
- 125nmELSKing Phalo AirportEast London
- 140nmUTWQueenstown AirportQueenstown
- 161nmGRJGeorge AirportGeorge
- 173nmOUHOudtshoorn AirportOudtshoorn
Location
Open the full mapFAPE · Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport · Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from PLZ on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Miami (MIA) | 7,001 nm | 16h 41m |
| Boston (BED) | 7,013 nm | 16h 43m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 7,016 nm | 16h 43m |
| New York (TEB) | 7,091 nm | 16h 53m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 7,194 nm | 17h 8m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,548 nm | 17h 57m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,704 nm | 18h 19m |
| Houston (HOU) | 7,822 nm | 18h 35m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use PLZ?
- Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport's longest paved runway is 7,087 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at PLZ?
- Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 7,087 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to PLZ?
- The closest alternate is Bisho Airport (BIY), about 106 nm away, followed by Plettenberg Bay Airport (PBZ) at 114 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from PLZ to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Miami about 16h 41m (7,001 nm), Boston about 16h 43m (7,013 nm), Palm Beach about 16h 43m (7,016 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.