The Blackout Bulletin

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has unveiled its preparedness to receive a high influx of travelers at airports across the nation during the upcoming festive season.

With contingency plans and strategies in place, ACSA is gearing up to handle the busiest days of the year.As stated by Airports Company South Africa, the organization is currently in the peak season, spanning from the end of October 2023 to the end of March 2024.

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ACSA BRACES FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON RUSH

Preparations commenced three to four months ago, and the group is intensifying efforts to ensure a seamless traveler experience during the bustling December-January period.

ACSA CEO Mpumi Mpofu expressed confidence in the meticulously planned response to accommodate the substantial number of passengers passing through the airport network, ensuring a safe and comfortable journey for holidaymakers.

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BUSIEST DAYS OF THE SEASON

Regarding the busiest days and weeks during the festive season, OR Tambo International Airport anticipates its peak week between 11 and 17 December.

The busiest day is expected to be 11 December, with 285 departing and 292 arriving aircraft movements, involving 28,727 departing passengers and 29,315 arriving passengers.Cape Town International Airport’s busiest week is slated for 1 to 7 January, with 1 January being the peak day, witnessing 264 aircraft movements and 32,750 arriving and departing passengers.

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King Shaka International Airport is projected to experience its busiest week between 11 and 17 December, with 14 December being the peak day, involving 131 aircraft movements and 19,602 passengers.

ACSA’s three primary airports—OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, and King Shaka International Airport—continue to handle 85% of all air passenger traffic in South Africa, with OR Tambo International contributing 49% of all departing traffic.

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ACSA’S PLAN TO TACKLE THE FESTIVE SEASON

Terence Delomoney, Group Executive Operations Management at ACSA, highlighted that the peak season strategy ensures that airports are adequately resourced and positioned to handle the surge in passenger volumes.

The strategy involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including ACSA, airports, the South African Police Service, and the Border Management Authority, with each contributing an operational deployment plan for the festive season.

Delomoney explained that the main factors considered in ACSA’s peak season planning encompass infrastructure availability, capacity and demand analysis, fuel management, and operational risk mitigation plans. This comprehensive plan ensures that every stakeholder is well-informed about expectations and resource planning for the busiest period.