Airports Company SA (ACSA) and IT aviation group SITA (not to be confused with the State IT Agency) have concluded a $35 million deal to improve airport services around the country, in preparation for 2010.
The five-year contract will see SITA provide the equipment and infrastructure for both agent check-in and passenger self-service kiosk check-in for ACSA.
While SITA already supplies many of the airport systems, ACSA and Aviation Coordination Services (ACS) chose to review and upgrade services before 2010 to prepare for the expected surge of passengers travelling to the Fifa World Cup.
"As part of this agreement with SITA, we have already installed new check-in equipment and trained all airline staff at the central terminal building, in Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport. Work in the other terminals there will be completed in the coming months and the new terminal at Cape Town International Airport will be opening in November 2009," says SITA.
SITA has also agreed with ACS, which represents the 75 airlines using SA airports, to provide continued maintenance and operation of the common use terminal equipment and common use self-service check-in environment.
Visitor influx
The airports are being prepared to receive an estimated half a million visitors for the 2010 World Cup, with improved check-in and self-service facilities.
It is expected that airports will have to handle up to 78 000 passengers and 260 international flights per day and will also require the capability to respond flexibly to airline schedule demands at peak times.
"Our common use check-in technology will ensure that all workstations across the country's airports will be available for use by the approximately 75 different airlines handling these passengers, thus maximising the use of these resources to ensure smooth passenger management and minimise delays. This shared infrastructure will provide the flexibility necessary to respond quickly to individual airline needs," says Khodr Akil, SITA regional VP for Africa.
In total, 64 games will be played between 11 June and 11 July 2010, in 10 venues across the country, with visitors travelling through many of the major airports.
Akil adds that the key to success in handling large passenger flows is to have the most suitable technology in place before the main event. SITA will have to make sure all systems are tested and that staff are trained.
“We will be well and truly ready by June 2010," he says.
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