SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Airports authority declare they are set to receive hundreds of thousands of expected fans and visitors

Record ID: 454386

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Airports authority declare they are set to receive hundreds of thousands of expected fans and visitors
  • Date: 26th May 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (MAY25,2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF AIRPORT CHECK IN COUNTERS PASSENGERS AT CHECK IN COUNTERS PASSENGERS WALKING THROUGH TERMINAL ARRIVALS BOARD PASSENGERS GOING THROUGH SECURITY CHECKS (SOUNDBITE) (English) GENERAL MANAGER, SA AIRPORTS COMPANY, CHRIS HLEKANE SAYING: "I can now finally confirm that we have now got to 100 percent in terms of what we had to do from an infrastructure point of view." SECURITY CONTROL CENTER CLOSE OF SCREENS MONITORING BAGGAGE AREA SECURITY OFFICIAL LOOKING AT MONITORS (SOUNDBITE) (English) GENERAL MANAGER, SA AIRPORTS COMPANY, CHRIS HLEKANE SAYING: "If I take the three major international airports, OR Tambo - finalised, dusted, we are currently sweeping up and making sure all is in order. Cape Town, All is completed actually we just took over the integration of the public transport which now make it more a functional airport from a transport point of view. King Shaka we all witnessed the transfer from Durban to the new site, all went well. Today, its running well and so I can then say from an infrastructure point of view we have met what we have planned to do in terms of capacity." AIRCRAFT PARKED ON APRON PLANE TAXING TOWARDS RUNWAY
  • Embargoed: 10th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVADCWIVGHXWEG2IXU6J2HMLEQV3
  • Story Text: With less than sixteen days before the 2010 FIFA World Cup kick off, South African airport authorities declared their readiness to welcome thousands of visitors that will make their to the country the tournament next month.
    General manager of the aiport regulatory body, South African Airports Company Chris Tekane said it is all systems go, he was addressing journalists at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Monday (May 25).
    "I can now finally confirm that we have now got to 100 percent in terms of what we had to do from an infrastructure point of view." said Tekane.
    Acsa has upgraded all South African airports as well, both domestic and international which will will be critical in providing transport for fans and teams during the World Cup. The O.R Tambo and Cape Town International Airport has undergone a multibillion make overs, while the new King Shaka International Airport began operations began operating this month.
    "If I take the three major international airports, OR Tambo - finalised, dusted, we are currently sweeping up and making sure all is in order. Cape Town, All is completed actually we just took over the integration of the public transport which now make it more a functional airport from a transport point of view. King Shaka we all witnessed the transfer from Durban to the new site, all went well. Today, its running well and so I can then say from an infrastructure point of view we have met what we have planned to do in terms of capacity." said Tekane.
    Hlekane said even though the transnet strike is ongoing they are are not anticipating any fuel shortage.
    OR Tambo would receive four teams with Australia arriving tomorrow (May 26), including Brazil arriving this week and 16 teams next week.
    A temporary facility has been put in place to to process the football players when they arrive. It is still unclear whether fans will be allowed to welcome their teams into the country.
    Security has been beefed up at airports. ACSA has spent more than R500 000 on x-ray machines that will monitor baggage for dangerous weapons and narcotics. Police officials said more than one thousand police officers would patrol airports at any given point.
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