O.R. Tambo International Airport, Africa's second busiest hub has gone through many transformations during its nearly 60 years of operations.

Founded as Jan Smuts International Airport in 1952 and subsequently renamed Johannesburg International Airport in 1994, it has been known as O.R. Tambo International since 2006 in memory of the prominent apartheid politician, African National Congress president Oliver Tambo.

Now the airport is looking to transform itself into one of  Africa's first airport cities.

With 18,000 people employed by various companies both inside and outside the terminal, the airport already plays a vital role in the economies of Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg and Gauteng and boasts an impressive infrastructure portfolio that has expanded by thousands of square metres from its modest origins.

The gateway recently completed a $307 million Central Terminal Building (CTB), linking the current domestic and international terminals at O.R. Tambo International Airport, which represents the final building block in a complete redevelopment of the terminal precinct that was commenced more than 10 years ago.

Already one of Africa's principal international gateways, O.R. Tambo handled nearly 19 million passengers in 2009 and boasts a route network stretching across five continents with client airlines including Etihad, Delta Air Lines and British Airways - it is also a hub for national carrier South African Airways (SAA).

Apart from passengers, the airport is also an important entrypoint for airfreight and last year handled some 300,000 tonnes of cargo.

Not content to rest on its laurels the airport has been busy establishing itself as a truly global gateway with modifications to its infrastructure which allowed it to welcome its first Air France/KLM A380 flight in February 2010.

Situated on 1,888 hectares of land, in the city of Ekurhuleni, just east of Johannesburg, O.R. Tambo International Airport is well placed to realise an ambitious airport city vision and is drawing up a new master plan to utilise its available real estate and link itself with the economic growth of nearby cities, such as Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Projects include a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, the high-speed Gautrain rail service, linking the airport with Pretoria, Johannesburg and Sandton and the revamping of the airport's surroundings.

With the airport expecting a major influx of passengers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, not to mention its important role in serving the air transport needs of Southern Africa, O.R. Tambo has set in place infrastructure plans to accommodate demand into the next decade.