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GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - If all goes according to plan, the Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) will invest approximately R100-million over the next five years to upgrade the George Airport. Terminal expansion is top of the list as the airport is bursting at the seams over peak season.
The upgrade was announced at a function at the airport last Friday, 15 February. Among the attendees were George mayor Melvin Naik, George Airport manager Brenda Vorster and senior officials of Acsa's head office.
In an interview with the George Herald Vorster said they expect to have a capital expenditure of more or less R100-million, adding that Acsa anticipates that the amount of passengers going through the George terminal annually will increase from 800 000 passengers to 1,2 million over the next two to five years. "We are due to commence upgrades in 2020/21. At the moment we are doing the master planning of the airport. It is very exciting."
She said passenger volumes increased from 5% to about 6% over the December / January holiday period, despite the holiday being almost three weeks shorter - a good sign for the airport.
Growth
Vorster gave an overview of activities at the airport and challenges they face.The airport dates from the PW Botha area and most of the infrastructure is more than 30 years old.
She said the growth of George, with the accompanying increase in traffic, affects the airport. She emphasised that Acsa would like to work closer with George Municipality and the Garden Route District Municipality in this regard.
Acsa is talking to the different stakeholders involved in the projects planned for the next five years, that will give a new look and face to the George Airport. She said in April, as part of an interim measure, the Fancourt lounge will move upstairs from its current location in the transit hall on the ground floor. This will make 50 to 60 more seats available on the ground floor, as well as two more boarding gates. Increasing air cargo and air cargo facilities is being looked at, with the aim of bringing more air cargo flights to George. This will probably start with one flight per week.
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Gateway to Garden Route
Vorster would love the airport to have international status but said that is not going to happen overnight. "For that to happen, there must be huge growth in George." Naik said that, as George is facing extremely fast growth, it is fortunate to have an airport that acts as the gateway to the Garden Route. He foresees an "airport city" in the distant future and would like the corridor around the old airport road to be developed.
* In a statement released after the briefing, Acsa said that George Airport has a direct, indirect and induced impact on the growth of the economy in the regional sector. In 2017 the airport contributed R107-million towards GDP - a 0,03% contribution to provincial GDP - and pointed out that the airport has created 225 jobs in the region. Acsa is also exploring regional partnerships that will result in route expansions and additional route options at its six regional airports.
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