"We are hard at work to facilitate the entrance of a charter company in the UK, AV8Air, to bring package tourists from Manchester and Dublin to Port Elizabeth," he said.

In a prepared speech, Radebe - who was recently moved from public enterprises to the transport portfolio - said PE airport already enjoyed international licence status.

"Some minor work still needs to be done to meet all the International Civil Aviation Organisation's requirements for international status, but I can assure you that these improvements will not be delayed," noting that the new terminal provided a combined international section in the domestic arrival and departure terminal.

"Consideration is also being given to the question of extending the runway and further upgrading to meet surges in demand," he said, noting the expanded need for the airport facility for Port Elizabeth's hosting of some matches in the Soccer World Cup of 2010.

He said the facility had provided the opportunity "to spread the government's black economic empowerment programme in the Eastern Cape even further than the great strides we have made through the Coega (industrial) development (zone) and other activities".

Construction was the responsibility of a joint venture between Alfdav Construction, a 100% BEE firm, and SBT (Pty) Ltd. Alfdav controls 51% of the consortium.