Cape Town International runway work still on hold

THE long-awaited
realignment of Cape
Town International
Airport’s runway is still a way
off, although Acsa has finally
published its Permission for
the five-year period from
April 1, 2015 to March 31,
2020.
 The realignment will allow the
airport to accommodate A380s
and is expected to entice more
international airlines to fly
direct to Cape Town.
After two years of
negotiations, Acsa announced
a 35,5% cut in tariffs two
weeks ago (see TNW January
11/18).
However, the delay in the
publication of the regulatory
Permission has meant that
Acsa has been unable to set
accurate medium-term plans
for the improvement of its
airports. The company had
to postpone all new capacity
investments, including the
much-awaited re-alignment
of the runway at Cape
Town International Airport.
Chris Zweigenthal, Aasa ceo,
says the Regulating Committee
has already approved the bulk
of Acsa’s proposed capital
projects. He warns, however,
that due to the delay in issuing
the Permission, Acsa will
need to consider prioritising
and re-scheduling many of
the projects. “There will no
doubt be further consultation
on this matter with the airline
industry.”
A spokesperson for Acsa told
TNW that the company was
happy that the process had
finally been concluded and that
all role players in the industry
could have regulatory certainty.
However, no timelines
were given as to when
the improvements to the
airport will be conducted.
The company said: “Acsa is
assessing the implication of
the Final Permission and will
determine an appropriate
response.”
Deborah Francis, department
head of Communications
and Branding for Cape Town
International Airport, told
TNW that the airport was still
undergoing an Environmental
Impact Assessment and
awaiting all the necessary
approvals before the runway
construction could commence.
Alan Winde, Minister of
Economic Opportunities,
says the planned realignment
and extension of the runway
at Cape Town Airport is
excellent news for tourism
to the Western Cape. “This
project would enable A380
aircraft, which have greater
profit potential, to land at
the airport. This would result
in increased appetite by
international airlines to fly
direct into Cape Town.”
While British Airways has
not confirmed the speculation,
industry sources say the
airline is planning to deploy
the A380 on the Cape Town
route but is awaiting the
new runway.