Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport contributes R30bn annually and 60 000 jobs to Gauteng’s economy and is thus critical the province’s economic recovery plan, according to Gauteng Premier, David Makhura.
He highlighted this during a visit to the airport – accompanied by MEC for Economic Development, Parks Tau, and MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure, Jacob Mamabolo – to discuss Airports Company South Africa’s (Acsa) strategic role in attracting investment to the province.
“OR Tambo is critical to the province’s economic recovery plan. This important meeting forms part of the provincial government’s economic reconstruction and recovery programme to support high-growth priority sectors that will unlock the transformation, modernisation and re-industrialisation of the different districts and corridors of Gauteng,” said David.
Acsa ceo, Mpumi Mpofu, said the company was conscious of the airport’s role as a catalyst for recovery in passenger travel and air cargo growth. “As a matter of fact, we have identified several growth initiatives. These include air cargo, aerotropolis, and an airport access strategy aimed at attracting rural and township communities to make use of Acsa airports and provide easy and affordable access to air travel.”
She added that Acsa’s aerotropolis growth initiatives involved the planned provision of a variety of land uses on and around an airport that were linked by corridors that benefited the airport, Gauteng communities, businesses, and the economic region.
According to Mpumi, the main benefit associated with pursuing an aerotropolis strategy was to foster economic growth and development in and around the ‘golden triangle’ airports – OR Tambo, King Shaka and Cape Town international airports.
“The macro-objective is to support the National Development Agenda and, from an Acsa perspective, to increase competitiveness, maximise revenues and ensure improved connectivity, accessibility, and transformation of our airports,” she said.
