Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) is putting measures in place to address refuelling infrastructure challenges at OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport.

This comes following a statement last week by the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) raising major concern about South Africa’s aviation infrastructure.

AASA said that they note with renewed concern and frustration the recent rash of incidents that disrupted airline operations over the summer peak travel season and throughout this month.

“The incidents are primarily related to the reliability of refuelling infrastructure, electrical power supply and redundancy systems at OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. There remains ongoing uncertainty regarding the management of fuel reserves as well as the security of the Jet fuel supply.”

Aaron Munetsi, the CEO of AASA, said, “Airlines and passengers pay statutory user charges to the various State aviation agencies for the provision of reliable, safe and efficient and affordable services.”

AASA is concerned that Acsa, among other entities, has been unable to provide the full range of the services that they have been paid for.

“At the same time the airlines are bearing the brunt in terms of ensuring that they meet their commitments to their customers by having to provide alternatives for disrupted operations,” Munetsi said.

Acsa said in a statement on Tuesday that they acknowledge the concerns raised by AASA regarding the reliability of refuelling infrastructure, electrical power supply, and redundancy systems at OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport.

“Acsa has recognized the need to enhance system redundancy in the short term while simultaneously developing long-term solutions. At OR Tambo International Airport, short-term measures include the installation of a bypass around the valve that regulates fuel flow to the apron within the hydrant system. This valve, which failed on December 9, 2024, was replaced with a new one later that month. The installation of the bypass line is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the end of February 2025,” it said.

Acsa was also working on a project to replace the existing 20-inch Jet A1 fuel feeder line at OR Tambo International Airport.

This underground pipeline connects the fuel storage depot to the aircraft aprons.

“The replacement of this pipeline is a critical part of ACSA’s infrastructure upgrade plan to restore jet fuel supply in line with operational requirements and to ensure the continued reliability of fuel services for airlines operating at the airport,” it said.

Construction on the pipeline will start in March 2025 and will be completed by March 2026.

In response to power disruption concerns at Cape Town International Airport, a trip at one of the remote site substations led to a cable fault, compounded by additional challenges with the generator, Acsa explained. “The substation and power supply ring have since been reinstated, and the cable has been repaired, ensuring the restoration of both primary and secondary power supply, along with generator backup,” it said.

The state-owned South African airport management company said it has initiated the emergency replacement of the cable and installed an additional backup generator to enhance resilience. “Furthermore, improvement projects for power and fuel supply have been expedited to increase capacity and strengthen redundancy. In addition to refuelling infrastructure, ACSA has invested significantly in improving overall airport efficiency and capacity.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to meet current and future infrastructure needs, Acsa has earmarked R21.7 billion for airport development projects.

“This investment will fund refurbishments, efficiency improvements, and statutory compliance measures across its airports, including improvements to asset availability, airport safety, and passenger experience,” it added.

Acsa also said that OR Tambo International Airport is undergoing a transformative upgrade, with the construction of a new Mid-field Cargo Terminal to meet the growing demand for cargo capacity, as well as six new bussing gates, expanded retail and lounge areas, and a new mezzanine level to improve passenger flow.

Additionally, Cape Town International Airport will undergo a reconfiguration of its domestic arrivals terminal and plans for a realigned runway development project within the next five years.

BUSINESS REPORT

#or-tambo-international-airport

Refuelling infrastructure improvements underway at South African airports

ACSA collaborates to ensure steady jet fuel supply at OR Tambo International Airport

ACSA investigates liability in fuel disruption before considering passenger refunds

ACSA resolves fuel supply issues at OR Tambo, denies that it is broke