SOUTH AFRICA PLANS AIRPORT EXPANSION FOR 2010

UNCLAS CAPE TOWN 000100 SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS DAKAR FOR FAA EJONES, MKEENE ROME FOR DHS JHALINSKI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON EINV KHLS SF SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA PLANS AIRPORT EXPANSION FOR 2010 WORLD CUP REF: DURBAN 00001 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Airport Companies South Africa (ACSA) will expand airport capacity by 40% over the next five years to meet rising demand and accommodate 2010 Soccer World Cup passengers. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Embassy transportation officer attending the annual Board of Airlines Representatives South Africa (BARSA) annual conference held near Cape Town 23-25 March learned that ACSA is expanding capacity at major airports in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg from 33 million passengers/year to 45 million by 2012 (40% increase) through a R5.2 billion ($743 million) capital expansion plan, according to ACSA's Andre ver Meulen. Ver Meulen said that even with these expansions, the major airports would not be able to handle the surge in demand expected from 2010 World Soccer Cup travelers, requiring the increased use of secondary airports on a temporary basis. ¶3. (SBU) OR Tambo International Airport (formerly Johannesburg International Airport),South Africa's busiest airport, will open a new international pier June 1 and a new central terminal building by the end of 2008. Cape Town International Airport, also in the midst of major reconstruction, expects annual passenger volume to rise from the current 7.4 million to 10.3 million by 2010 and 14 million by 2014. Durban International Airport will expand capacity from current 4.1 million to 7.5 million by 2015. A new international airport, LaMercy north of Durban, will add 7.5 million in capacity but construction has been delayed due to a lawsuit filed by an unsuccessful construction bidder. Once completed, La Mercy is intended to eventually replace the Durban International Airport as the principal airport for the Kwazulunatal Province (reftel). ¶4. (SBU) According to ACSA Managing Director Monhla Hlahla, R132 million of the R5.2 billion will be spent to upgrade secondary airports operated by ACSA to handle 2010 world cup passengers. These airports are located in Port Elizabeth, East London, George, Bloemfontein, Kimberly, Uppington and Pilanesberg. LA LIME