The Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) has earmarked a further R3,58-billion for investment in infrastructure upgrades over the next five years. Projects will include measures to increase capacity and efficiencies at all airports, including the domestic airports in Kimberley, Bloemfontein and East London, the company said on Tuesday.
This follows the successful conclusion of a five-year programme of investing R3-billion in new or significantly upgraded airport infrastructure.
The result is an impressive network of world-class airports that leave a lasting impression on foreign visitors and on our own citizens, said MD Monhla Hlahla.
“To complement our world-class airport facilities and focus on operational efficiencies, in the last two years we have run a customer care training programme for our airport staff with a R4-million budget over four years. This has had a recognisable effect on our levels of service, as confirmed by regular independent passenger opinion surveys.”
She added that the constant improvement of facilities places Acsa in a fortunate position.
“Infrastructure developments are planned way in advance, through detailed master plans, to cater for anticipated traffic growth.
“We will consult with the airlines continually to determine whether we should augment these planned expansions and upgrades in the light of the requirements of the 2010 World Cup,” she added.
Major plans include a multi-storey parkade at Cape Town International airport with in-house check-in counters and an international passenger transfer facility in the Johannesburg International airport terminal, which will be integrated with the planned Gautrain Rapid Rail Link between the airport, Sandton and Johannesburg.
At the Johannesburg International airport, Echo Apron — in conjunction with the Northern Pier development — will increase the Acsa flagship’s capacity to accommodate new, wide-body, long- haul aircraft such as the A380 at connecting stands.
Plans for the airport include facilities to improve efficiencies in aircraft movements, such as larger aprons and high-speed exit lanes, as well as upgrades to the international arrivals and departures terminals to create more capacity, together with an additional motor-vehicle parkade and aircraft-connecting bridges.
Hlahla added that to fund the capital expenditure programmes, Acsa will continue to use the company’s existing medium- and long-term borrowing facilities, together with retained earnings.
“Together with our shareholders, management is, however, investigating a possible capital restructuring of the company. We want to be able to use the capital markets more freely to be able to borrow at better rates, perhaps through a bond issue, so that we can finance our infrastructure projects more efficiently. This has the potential to save millions for the company and the country.
“This, we believe, will add value to our current processes with the industry [airlines and regulating committee] to engage on an appropriate regulatory regime to incentivise Acsa towards efficiency and innovation while continuing to invest in cost effective infrastructure development.”
Michelle North, Acsa’s assistant group executive: finance, said Acsa is looking at more efficient ways of funding its infrastructure requirements and it will look at accessing the local debt capital markets via a domestic issue.
Looking ahead, Hlahla said subject to a satisfactory resolution to the regulatory issues, she is confident that there will be further noteworthy improvements in efficiency and profitability for Acsa. — I-Net Bridge