The Airports Company of South Africa has embarked on a multi-billion rand project to accommodate its new Airbus fleet.
The Airbus project, totalling R10-billion, includes the upgrade of both Johannesburg and Cape Town international airports.
This includes two new runways for Cape Town to accommodate the giant new A380 airbus, which can carry up to 600 passengers and takes up the parking space of two domestic flight aircraft.
Chief airports planner Erik Kriel said at a press conference on Wednesday that it was a massive rehabilitation project that would incorporate the upgrading of runways and terminal buildings at the two airports.
Linden Birns, spokesperson in South Africa for Airbus, said the shoulders of runways would have to be hardened and high speed off-ramps would have to be built to ensure faster take-offs and landings.
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"But most of the infrastructure changes would occur within the airport building to accommodate the influx of ... passengers," said Birns.
While the airport has much to gain from the arrival of the Airbus, local industries also stand to benefit, said Hadi Akoum, vice-president of Airbus.
"The manufacturing of part of the wings and galleys is done in SA. We also have a strong relationship with SA regarding the military transporter," he said.
- This article was originally published on page 2 of Cape Argus on February 09, 2006
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