Increased passenger traffic at SA airports
Acsa reports successful 2016 as international gateways achieve significant firsts
AIRPORTS Company South Africa (Acsa) said international departures and arrivals were the strongest drivers of passenger growth in the fourth quarter to the end of December, recording increases of 7.5% and 7.1%, respectively.
Acsa said growth in domestic traffic slowed in the fourth quarter, with arrivals and departures increasing by 1.4% and 1.2%, respectively, compared with the same period in 2015.
It said it had a successful 2016 overall, with 39.7 million passengers having been facilitated during the year, up 5.4% compared with 2015.
“The three main international gateways all achieved significant firsts, with OR Tambo International Airport exceeding 20 million passengers, Cape Town International Airport processing 10 million passengers and King Shaka International Airport processing more than 5 million passengers for the year,” the company said.
Last month, the company said it would slash tariffs by 35.5% in April in a move that might result in airlines reviewing their ticket prices.
The service charge per departing domestic passenger will be reduced from R127 to R82. The service charge per departing international passenger will be reduced from R346 to R223, while the charge for passengers departing for airports in Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland and Namibia will fall from R346 to R223.
Domestic arrivals increased by 5.3% last year to 13.6 million passengers, while domestic departures also increased by 5.3% to 13.7 million.
International arrivals increased by 5.3% to 5.4 million, while international departures rose by 5.8%, with 5.5 million passengers leaving the country.
King Shaka International recorded the highest growth for the year, with an 8.45% increase. Cape Town placed second, with a growth of 7.3%, and OR Tambo International saw an increase of 3.8%.
Acsa said there was encouraging growth in travel to neighbouring African states in the period. Travel to countries such as Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Namibia rose by 6% to 567 254 passengers and regional departures increased 6.4% to 565 702.
Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba said last month that over 5 million people had moved through the country’s points of entry between December 9 and January 14.