With the completion of its $307 million CTB, O.R. Tambo International Airport has increased not just its capacity, but has also taken steps to revamp its retail offering and passenger experience.
The building brings together all the domestic and international areas into one space, which greatly improves passenger experience and orientation. This flagship project is complemented by recently completed pier and apron developments that allow it to accommodate the new generation of large aircraft, such as the A380 and the Dreamliner.
Produced in stages, the development includes a new atrium at international arrivals, which was opened in September 2008 for 'meeters and greeters' awaiting the arrival of international passengers.
Additional retail facilities and an enlarged and remodelled food court were opened in October 2008. The enlarged departures level, with 75 additional check in desks, kerbside drop-off and associated security and immigration controls, was commissioned in April 2009.
A month later, the first phase of the new consolidated international arrivals area began processing international arriving passengers and thanks to the provision of a 90-metre long baggage carousel, the airport has reached full compliance to accommodate the Airbus A380.
More generally, the CTB has created a 'one terminal building' at O.R. Tambo International where passengers, and especially transfer passengers, can now circulate seamlessly between the different facilities.
The remainder of the CTB, comprising the second phase of the International Arrivals terminal; an international to domestic re-check facility and the reconfiguration of temporary facilities, were completed in December 2009 - well in advance of the World Cup.
The 80-kilometre Gautrain rapid mass transport system is currently being constructed and once complete will link the airport to Johannesburg and its surrounding municipalities.
Designed with facilities suited to the specific needs of airport passengers, the Gautrain will allow customers to check in their luggage at the Sandton station and will cut journey times to the airport to less than 15 minutes.
Escalators and lifts between the new CTB and the Gautrain station were completed in February 2009 and will be opened for operation once the airport's Gautrain station building has been completed by Bombela, the concessionaire for the rail link.
Cargo and Logistics
Cargo operations at O.R. Tambo International have grown significantly over the last 40 years and today air freight has reached such volumes that the airport is looking to establish a new cargo hub.
Dubbed 'Midfield Cargo', the new facility will be located between the two runways and is viewed as a long-term solution to current and future capacity demand, as discussed in the airport's master plan.
With O.R. Tambo handling some 300,000 tonnes of cargo in 2009 through 15 operators, including Swissport, Dnata and BidAir, airport planners are looking to create new synergies in the handling of logistics and the new facility will allow the gateway to handle 1 million tonnes of cargo annually.
In the interim, the airport is looking at other ways to increase productivity, such as combining small warehouses to make internal handling processes more efficient. From that perspective a smaller number of cargo handlers may create more tonnage efficiencies at the
cargo precinct.
An upcoming workshop with cargo stakeholders should conclude a mutual understanding of the growth possibilities and a way forward regarding current facilities and possible new midfield cargo facilities.
Currently, the airport's 50,000sqm facility handles a variety of high-tech items from mobile phones to aircraft engines, motor parts and perishables such as flowers and fruits.
Major international players, such as Air France and Lufthansa, operate an international network serving markets in Europe, the US and several African countries - SAA Cargo is the airport's biggest client.
