Aviation IT and communications specialist SITA has announced that US$35 million is being spent on airports in South Africa.
At Cape Town International Airport a new terminal will open in November, for use by both international and domestic passengers at a centralised check-in. The new terminal will have a retail mall, extra public parking spaces and public transport links.
International airports Johannesburg and Durban will see improved check-in facilities, including self service kiosks, by the end of the year. SITA has installed new check-in technology so that all the check-in desks can be used by the 75 different airlines that fly out of the airports.
Khodr Akil, SITA regional vice president, Africa, said: “The airports in South Africa will have to handle up to 78,000 passengers and 260 international flights per day and will also require the capability to respond flexibly to airline schedule demands at peak times.”
Bongani Maseko, operations director for Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), said: “This is the first time the continent of Africa is hosting this world-class event and in South Africa, as the host country, our airports will be the first and last experience our international visitors will have during the World Cup so it is vital that we are well prepared.”
The World Cup will see fans flock to watch 64 games of football between 11 June and 11 July next year, in ten venues across South Africa. The country has seen a host of new developments in the run up to the event, with Johannesburg in particular looking to put itself on the world map. For an article about its preparations, see On the Ball in the February issue of Business Traveller.
Visit sita.aero, airports.co.za
Report by Sara Turner
