A master plan to expand the East London Airport into a major terminal is being development by the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA).

The growth of the airport was discussed by members of the development planning standing committee of Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) on Tuesday.

According to a report tabled at the meeting, the core business of an airport changes once it accommodates one million passengers a year.

East London’s airport currently handles about 750 000 passengers and is expected to reach the one million mark within the next five years.

The report further stated that in order to accommodate the growth, a number of issues had to be investigated , including:

• Lengthening runways to accommodate larger and more aircraft;

   

• Increasing the number of parking bays;

   

• Increasing the terminal space;

   

• Providing more hangar space for commercial aircraft ; and

   

• Increasing cargo facilities due to increased demand from the East London Industrial Development Zone (IDZ).

   

  In 2007, the airport grew about 17 percent and it has been predicted that it could grow by 11% next year.

  ACSA spokesperson Colin Naidoo did not go into specifics of the master plan, but said BCM requested details of future planned land requirements.

  The process started in August and is expected to be completed within the next six to nine months.

  But ACSA could face obstacles in seeking additional land.

  There are informal settlements to the west and east of the airport’s main runway.

  Naidoo said: “ACSA, in consultation with the BCM, local government and representatives of the three informal settlements, are currently in discussion on these issues and are looking at options.”

  Situated to the north of the airport is the province’s oldest forest of rare Umtiza trees.

  The Eastern Cape Department of Forestry would have to give consent for development.

  “The Department of Public Works is in the process of donating land west of the airport to the BCM,” said the report.

  “There is a clause which states that a portion of this land is to be used by ACSA.”

  It’s not clear what portion of land ACSA requires and it has been recommended that they should formally request the land.

  IDZ economist Chris Ettmayr said increasing the capacity of the airport would attract new business to the region.

  He also said by extending the runway, bigger cargo planes flying in greater volumes would be able to land at the airport.

  “It would lower logistical costs, which would make the IDZ more attractive,” he said.

  Ettmayr said he recently met with airport management, who admitted that the airport was not operating at full capacity.

  Managing director of Buffalo City Tourism Peter King said that, in his view, expanding the airport would not have significant spin-offs for tourism in the city.

  Only by increasing the number of flights to and from East London at more competitive prices would there be a benefit to tourism in the region, he said.

  However, the upgrading of the car hire services and the general environment of the airport could impact positively on tourism.

  “If tourists see things working well, no doubt they would feel better about coming back here,” said King.

  Terminal upgrading is currently under way at the airport and should be completed by December 2009.

  “Other major projects are the roads reconfiguration and car park extension, and should be completed by the end of November,” said Naidoo.

  A total of R23.9million has already been spent on the upgrades.