| AIRPORTS Company South Africa (Acsa) and the | | | | precision and excellence by the 8 000 workers who |
| government will focus on markets in the East to | | | | built it from scratch over a period of 33 months. |
| attract more international traffic to Durban's | | | | Besides ensuring that there was enough traffic |
| newly-opened King Shaka International Airport. | | | | coming through the airport, Hlahla highlighted two |
| Acsa managing director Monhla Hlahla at the weekend | | | | other challenges that she said still had to be |
| said the company was prioritising the East as studies | | | | addressed jet airways konnect and jet airways |
| showed that this was where future growth would | | | | "It is about the sale of the land (the site of the old |
| come from. | | | | Durban International Airport). I run a small business |
| "Even at the time when they were privatising Acsa, | | | | compared with government and I need them to |
| studies always showed that future growth would | | | | finalise the sale of the land so I can put the money |
| come from Asia. This was before China became big | | | | back into the business and I can afford to pay my |
| and it is beginning to show more now. Even if you | | | | debts," said Hlahla. |
| talk to the airlines, they tell you that Africa is number | | | | "The other issue is that many people don't realise |
| one and Asia is number two," Hlahla said. | | | | how much the aviation industry contributes to |
| Hlahla said Acsa would use the World Cup as an | | | | growth. We need government policy to create an |
| opportunity to market the new airport to secure as | | | | enabling environment for the industry to grow and to |
| many new routes as possible. Last week, Acsa met | | | | be sustainable. I am referring to a number of things |
| the Beijing Airport Authority and SAA about routes | | | | like the regulatory environment." |
| between South Africa and China. | | | | Acsa is unhappy with the way that its tariffs are |
| The KwaZulu-Natal government is negotiating with | | | | determined and it has approached the courts as it |
| Jet Airways because it wants the airline to launch a | | | | wants to change the regulatory structure. |
| direct flight between Durban and Mumbai. The Indian | | | | Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele said the old Durban |
| airline already flies from OR Tambo International | | | | International Airport site would be used to park |
| Airport to Mumbai. | | | | planes during the World Cup. The government would |
| Emirates is the only international airline that is | | | | call for expressions of interest from the public after |
| currently using the King Shaka airport. The R7.2 billion | | | | the tournament to source development ideas. |
| facility, which is housed together with the Dube | | | | Zuma revived the idea of building a new international |
| Tradeport 35km outside Durban, can accommodate | | | | airport in Durban 16 years ago when he was MEC for |
| 7.5 million passengers a year. | | | | economic development and tourism in KwaZulu-Natal. |
| President Jacob Zuma, who officially launched the | | | | The plan had been opposed under the apartheid |
| airport at the weekend, added that the | | | | government. |
| government's trade strategy prioritised greater | | | | "There has never been any doubt in my mind that |
| integration with countries of the South. He said the | | | | this airport was the missing piece of the puzzle to |
| new airport and the trade hub were well positioned | | | | enable growth and development in this region and for |
| to capture these markets. | | | | our country. More than 80 percent of our national |
| Since it started operating at the beginning of the | | | | economy is housed in the three cities of |
| month, King Shaka has seen more than 15 000 | | | | Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban," Zuma said. |
| passengers come through its gates on more than | | | | "Durban, however, was the only city that lacked the |
| 700 flights. | | | | aviation infrastructure that was able to accommodate |
| Hlahla said the facility had been delivered with | | | | long-haul international flights," the president added. |