The increase in local domestic airlines over the past five years has seen considerable growth in air traffic, particularly for domestic travel.
"Convenient, lower-cost air travel has not only increased the frequency of travel for those who were already flying, but has brought an entirely new market of people who previously used other modes of transport," said Brooks Mparutsa, the executive director of finance at Acsa.
"The investments Acsa is making are significant and carry us well into the next 10 years. We have a short- and long-term growth strategy to increase capacity in line with economic projections and estimated increases in air travel locally and internationally."
More than R3.5-billion has been allocated to upgrading facilities at Johannesburg International Airport (JIA) alone.
The R512-million Northern International Pier project at JIA, now under way, will provide nine wide-bodied contact stands with dual-loading air bridges to handle the new generation A380 super jumbo aircraft. The air bridges will enable the loading and unloading of passengers from two doors at the same time.
Tying in with the pier project is the R100-million Echo apron, providing additional aircraft parking aprons for the airport's existing international departure terminal. The runways and taxiways will be widened to facilitate the full operations of A380 aircraft and provide alternate landing and taxiways for the airport, increased runway capacity and a faster through-flow of air traffic.
The largest Acsa project in progress is JIA's central terminal building, designed to link the international and domestic terminals and make the check-in, transfer and arrivals process a seamless experience.
The terminal will incorporate the airport station for the Gautrain rapid rail link, positioned more than 20m above ground level.
Construction on a new multistorey parkade will start soon, providing another 5,000 parking bays for the airport.
Meanwhile, Cape Town International has been allocated R650 million for the building of a new two-storey domestic terminal building, and a further R350-million for the construction of an upper and lower roadway system to feed it. The design of the terminal will accommodate the airport's first six air bridges for domestic flights.
The airport recently opened a 2,000-bay multi-storey parkade, and a second facility of the same size will be completed by the end of 2007.
Durban International will enjoy a R35-million boost for the extension of the international terminal, providing more check-in counters, baggage carousels and more space on the arrivals concourse.
More than R130-million has been allocated for the refurbishment of the four other major national airports - Port Elizabeth, George, East London and Bloemfontein - over the next five years. The three smallest airports - Kimberley, Upington and Pilanesberg ? all have sufficient capacity to cope with demand.
Demand on airport infrastructure is set to increase steadily past 2010 as the economy continues to grow. Several airports will reach capacity in the next seven years.
By 2015 Cape Town International is expected to have to accommodate 17million passengers a year - the number currently handled by JIA.
Acsa's long-term plan to manage such growth is multi-pronged. By 2013 a proposed R8-billion mid field terminal will be constructed between the two existing runways at JIA, fed by an entirely separate road system with new parking facilities and infrastructure.
The existing main runway at Cape Town International will be relocated slightly to the east of its current position to facilitate the opening of more areas for development between the present runaway and the terminal buildings. Longer term planning for Cape Town International will involve maximising the development of the current precinct to open up and develop more apron space.
An ongoing challenge is the funding of such large scale projects.
"Historically, when looking at capital expenditure projects of around R3-billion, the funding solution did not need to be creative. But, looking forward, we will have to be significantly more innovative about how we fund development infrastructure," said Mparutsa.
Business Times
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge
