Airports Company South Africa signs sister airports agreement

October 26, 2015

Airports Company South Africa (ACS) has signed a strategic sister airports agreement with Munich Airport Group.

Both have jointly agreed on areas of strategic cooperation and information sharing. The agreement will allow employees from each organisation to learn from each other’s knowledge, skills and regional experience.

Munich International Airport is recognised globally as a centre of excellence in customer service and technology. It has been successful in the development of an aerotropolis servicing 500 companies across various industries.

ACS says Munich’s aerotropolis experience will be invaluable as it works with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality to develop O.R. Tambo International Airport into Africa’s first true aerotropolis.

“This agreement represents our aspirations of not only collaborating with the Airports Company South Africa in terms of expertise and skills, but to also build and cement a strong relationship with the company. This is just the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial journey between the two airports,” says Munich Airport’s chief executive officer, Dr Michael Kerkloh.

Airports Company South Africa is planning construction to extend and align a runway at the Cape Town International Airport as well as a second mid-term field terminal at O.R. Tambo International Airport. Similarly, Munich International Airport will be embarking on the construction of its third runway and a mid-field terminal, due for completion in in 2016. As such, both airport organisations stand to benefit as they learn from, and support each other during these critical expansions.

Munich Airport International already has sister airports agreements with Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Singapore’s Changi International Airport, and Beijing Airport.

ACS chief executive officer, Bongani Maseko, says: “There are a number of collaboration opportunities offered by this agreement with Munich Airport Group, especially in new customer service technologies and systems. Munich International Airport’s impressive history in successfully delivering world-leading aviation construction, technology and customer service projects will provide both the experience and insights crucial to laying the foundations of Africa’s first aerotropolis.”

“This agreement will usher in robust quality management systems for all aspects of the business while also strengthening our non-aeronautical services as we evolve to become a world-class airports management business,” concludes Maseko.

James Graham

James Graham is an award-winning transport media journalist with a long background in the commercial freight sector, including commercial aviation and the aviation supply chain. He was the initial Air Cargo Week journalist and retuned later for a stint as editor. He continues his association as editor of the monthly supplements. He has reported for the newspaper from global locations as well as the UK.