South African airports will be fully upgraded in time for the 2010 World Cup coming to the country in a few months. Not only that, but the airports will be fully able to handle the influx of traffic that will be descending into the country for the World Cup. This was announced by the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) at a press briefing in Johannesburg. 

ACSA announced that preparations and upgrading of current airport facilities are 90% complete, with the highest confidence that it will be 100% ready come June 2010. 

Chris Hlekane, general manager for O.R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg said that he is confident that, together with airport partners and staff, the airport will be ready to meet the requirements of an event of this magnitude. 

The remaining 10% of work that still needs to be done is mainly loose ends that need to be tied up, and will be concluded in time for the World Cup. 

Upgrades to the airports began as early as 2006, even before Fifa announced in May of that year that South Africa would host the event. ACSA invested about R17-billion in operations at the time. Since then construction has speeded up to meet the June 2010 deadline. 

O.R Tambo International Airport will be the main point of entrance for football fans coming to South Africa during the World Cup. All projects at this airport were completed in December 2009. 

The airport, named after Apartheid struggle icon Oliver Tambo, boasts a multi-storey parkade with 165 000 parking bays,  and a revamped central terminal and check in facility worth R2.2 billion. All in all, the airport is able to accommodate about 28 million passengers a year. 

Two new tankers have also been installed, each boasting a capacity of 60 million litres. Seven new aircraft stands have also been installed, taking the total numbers to 105. 

Makeover for Regional Airports 

Cape Town International, another airport expected to draw the crowds, has undergone massive improvements as well, and is nearing completion. Most of the major projects, including an upgrade to the central terminal building, 8 000 extra parking bays and road upgrades, are said to be completed at the end of March. 

The central terminal has been expanded to accommodate 14 million passengers a year, and the number of airport stands have been increased by five. This brings the total to 32. 

In Durban, the newly built King Shaka International Airport is scheduled to be completed in April and operational by May. Approximately R6.7 million has been spent on the facility, which will accommodate 7.5 million passengers a year. 

Other regional airports around the country have also been revamped in preparation for the tournament. Bloemfontein Airport terminal was completed in December 2009. A temporary terminal will be set up to meet the demand, and will be finished in May. 

Port Elizabeth Airport will also set up a temporary terminal, as well as East London and Kimberley Airports. All of these are set to be completed at the end of May. 

Author bio 

This article was written for  Flightsite  and offers information on SA Airport upgrades for the 2010 World Cup.