SA airports set for R21.7 billion upgrades
Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga and ACSA have announced an exciting R21.7 billion investment plan to upgrade SA airports.
South African and international travellers will soon be able to take advantage of upgraded airport facilities at several of SA airports.
Many of South Africa’s state-owned airports are earmarked for major enhancements, due to a R21.7 billion investment plan announced by Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga.
SA AIRPORTS INVESTMENT
The Transport minister has given the go-ahead for major improvements to take place at various Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) airports around the country.
The minister announced a R21.7 billion overall airport investment plan. This includes new developments at the country’s primary airport hubs as well as some of the regional ones.
ACSA AIRPORTS
South Africa’s busiest aviation hubs, Johannesburg and Cape Town, are expected to receive the greatest share of the large investment.
However, upgrades and developments are also in the pipelines for Gqeberha’s Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, George Airport, Durban’s King Shaka International Airport and East London’s King Phalo Airport.
MAJOR UPGRADES TO SA AIRPORTS
Multi-billion-rand expansion plans are in place for both Cape Town International and OR Tambo International airports.
Cape Town International’s domestic terminal is set to be revamped. Almost R3 billion will be spent on a runway realignment project at the airport.
At OR Tambo International the major investment will go into a new R5 billion cargo terminal development.
According to Moneyweb, these infrastructure developments were in the pipeline before the global pandemic.
DURBAN AIRPORT HOTEL
Before the onset of the pandemic, ACSA had invested nearly R420m in upgrades at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport so the airport facility is not expected to see major new upgrades and developments.
The minister said that Durban’s King Shaka International Airport will see the development of a hotel.
Acsa said recently that Durban’s airport had not yet fully recovered from the impact of Covid-19. Unfortunately, it had lost scheduled services from international airlines such as British Airways.