Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga announced that Acsa had received R21.7bn (€1bn) to invest in airport infrastructure development at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) over the next five years.
“Before COVID, the airports in South Africa were some of the best in terms of efficiency and safety. During COVID, Acsa deferred airport maintenance… They kept it safe, but cracks started to emerge,” said Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer of FlySafair, highlighting issues such as the breakdown of the baggage sorting system at OR Tambo two days before Christmas last year.
The investment will enhance airport safety, efficiency and the passenger experience through a series of refurbishments.
The refurbishment and expansion of the domestic arrivals terminal at Cape Town will be prioritised, as the airport has experienced surging demand for extra capacity. Acsa is planning a range of expansions at the airport, such as the meet-and-greet and the baggage claim areas, which will get a new baggage carousel. There are also plans to expand the domestic departures lounge, retail spaces, and ablution facilities. While three contact gates and fixed boarding bridges will form part of the integral expansion, the most vital part of the project is the plans to realign the airport’s main runway to increase its capacity.
Mpumi Mpofu, Acsa CEO, told Engineering News that the airport projects aimed to increase capacity as capital expenditure was suspended during the COVID-19 period.
With a strategic vision in mind, Acsa plans to construct a new midfield cargo terminal at JNB, followed by the development of a midfield passenger terminal. The plan also includes expanding retail, seating, and holding lounge areas in the airport’s Terminal A, which will also receive six new business gates. Phase two of the project will see the construction of a new mezzanine level to improve circulation and expand seating and holding space, reflecting Acsa’s commitment and capability to enhance airport infrastructure.
“The realignment of Cape Town’s runway is not just a refurbishment, it’s a significant runway that needed attention. It’s going to improve efficiency and safety again, and I hope to see the money put in the right places. The proof is in the pudding,” says Gordon.
The two main projects at CPT and JNB are part of a more extensive national plan to improve infrastructure and operations at George Airport, King Shaka International Airport, Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha, and King Phalo Airport in East London.
Although Gordon doesn’t believe that South Africa’s airports will be developed on the scale of Singapore Changi Airport, “efficiency and safety improvement are very important.”
