South Africa’s two largest airports have been given new terminal facilities as the country braces itself for the World Cup next year.
Cape Town International’s new central terminal building (CTB) is now up and running having been unveiled earlier this month while work at OR Tambo International Airport continues.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) said it had stepped up its investment plans to cope with a “massive expected influx” of people keen to witness the sporting action.
OR Tambo, which serves South Africa’s largest city Johannesburg, has recently unveiled a new international to domestic transfer hall as part of its R1.9 billion Central Terminal Building.
The new terminal building at OR Tambo is designed so that passengers can transfer from long-haul to regional and short-haul flights within the same facilities and with new departure procedures.
Cape Town’s R1.6 billion CBT now has a single check-in area three times larger than the original for use by both international and domestic passengers.
In order to cope with the larger capacity at Cape Town, the terminal now has 120 check-in counters, 20 self-service machines and a central security screening point.
As well as new retail facilities, the road system around Cape Town’s CTB is being upgraded with work expected to be finished by March 2010 at a cost of R120 million.
The ongoing project at OR Tambo also anticipates the impact of the high-capacity A380, with higher yearly passenger volumes expected as a result. Nine new aircraft stands were completed last year, six of which can handle the A380.
The second and final phase at OR Tambo is expected to be completed by July 2010, and includes a retail hall extension and new mezzanine lounges.
Visit acsa.co.za for more information.
Report by Andrew Gough 
