Acsa to spend R94m on upgrading Durban airport 
Edward West

KwaZulu Natal Correspondent

DURBAN — The Airports Company SA (Acsa) plans to spend R94m on upgrading Durban International Airport this year, even though the process is going full throttle to have King Shaka International ready by 2010 on a site about 30km away.

The company says the expansion is necessary because economic growth and the advent of low-cost carriers increased the number of people using the airport by 16% last year. This amounted to 3,6-million passengers.

Acsa assistant general manager Bongiwe Pityi said traffic congestion was such that 300-400 cars parked outside the allocated parking spaces every day.

“Studies showed we would have run out of parking space by 2008,” she said. Aircraft turnaround times would also be delayed if there was no immediate intervention.

Acsa was also working with government to have the new King Shaka International Airport north of Durban built by 2010.

“We all hope it will be ready, but it depends on the environmental impact assessment (EIA),” Pityi said.

Meanwhile, a multistorey car park was being built for R90m at Durban International.

The first phase will result in 640 additional parking bays by the end of September.

The project was expected to be completed by the end of June next year, with the number of parking spaces increased to more than 2900 from about 1500.

A parking lot for airport staff has also been planned, farther away from the terminal, to cater for about 3000 Acsa staff as well as those from airlines, kiosks and ground support services who were sharing the existing parking with the public.

At least 14 more check-in counters would be installed inside the terminal this year, while four common use self service (CUSS) machines — which look like ATMs — will be introduced. This was to speed up the processing and issuing of boarding passes for passengers with little luggage.

Additional security cameras, a baggage reconciliation system and equipment to screen baggage will also be installed. Only one in three bags was currently being screened.

On the airport’s apron, the number of parking bays for aircraft would also be expanded to hold 11, up from seven.

Government reportedly plans to announce the preferred bidder for the construction of King Shaka Airport in November, with construction expected to begin in March.