The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is said to be close to signing a partnership deal with development companies to expand the company's flagship facility, OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg through the commercial development of airport land previously owned by arms manufacturer Denel. The prospect, too, of a new passenger terminal (OR Tambo Midfield Terminal) is also said to be in the "conceptualization" stage. |
| Johannesburg OR Tambo Int'l Airport (AirportsInt'l) |
Situated in Gauteng, the airport is located in the heart of South
Africa's commercial and industrial hub with road and rail
infrastructure linking it to Johannesburg, Pretoria and the sub region.
Speaking to BusinessDayLive, ORTIA's newly appointed general manager, Tebogo Mekgoe, said he has asked ACSA for ZAR300million for capital expenditure for this year to be used for the maintenance and refurbishing of OR Tambo International Airport in a bid to unlock the commercial value of the non-aviation land and to improve the access of passengers to the airport.
Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport is South Africa's
principal airport, and with more than 50 percent of the country's air
passengers passing through the airport, the airport generates
USD112million (ZAR4billion) of which 42% of that comes from commercial operations.with
over 100 companies employing over 50'000 people. The airport precinct
also boasts international and domestic travel retail malls and world
class conference venues and hotels.
The
proposed development is likely based on a study by NACO, Netherlands Airport Consultants B.V, done in 2005/2006 which provided for the development of a land use plan; development of a master plan, airfield
and landside access configurations; financial feasibility analysis and an environmental impact/noise study.
NACO proposal for Johannesburg OR Tambo International
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| OR Tambo's MidField Terminal (NACO) |
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| OR Tambo's Envisaged Midfield Terminal & Runways(NACO) |
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| OR Tambo's Envisaged Midfield Terminal (NACO) |
ACSA's plans for ORTIA's development, entitled Aerotropolis East, proposed landside development opportunities include the creation of a world class aircraft maintenance and general aviation facility and the development of a mixed use precinct conceived as "a high quality urban environment founded on the live-work-play principle".
According to the proposal: the long term vision for Aerotropolis East is:
- World class Aircraft Maintenance and aviation facility.
- Development of a Mixed-Use Precinct founded on the live – work – play principle.
The Mixed-Use Precinct will be situated to the South East of OR Tambo International Airport, along the Atlas Road corridor. The proposal is envisaged to include the following key components:
- Commercial component
- Hotel & MICE component (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions)
- Residential component
The land use may follow market demand with township establishment 'imminent'. The envisaged PHASE 1A comprises a land area of approximately 10 hectares. The land, however, is not for sale, however it is available for development based on a long term land use arrangement. ACSA will consider development proposals which should include security of tenancy, development skills and financial plans.
Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport
Aerotropolis East Project Proposal
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| Airport view - Orientation & Aerotropolis East connectivity (ACSA) |
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| Aerotropolis East Schematic (ACSA) |
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| Aerotropolis East – Proposed Phase 1 (ACSA) |
In the schematics, provision is made for a second passenger terminal where the Denel Section currently is, dubbed OR Tambo Midfield Terminal, two new parallel runways and an extension/diversion to existing road and GauTrain rail infrastructure.