Lanseria International Airport is set to undergo a R100-million face-lift as it prepares for an influx of foreign visitors ahead of the 2010 soccer World Cup. This is in addition to R58-million already spent on expanding its runways and taxiways and installing hi-tech navigation systems to bring it in line with international standards.

The Gauteng province has also set aside R120-million to build and upgrade roads leading to the airport.  Metro has established that Lanseria’s managers are in negotiations with the local World Cup organising committee to move more than 50000 soccer officials, players and administrators coming to South Africa through the airport.

Lanseria, in the northwest of Joburg, had 160000 passengers pass through it last year. But with its revamp this number will rocket to 800000.  Lanseria’s manager, Gavin Sayce, said the privately owned airport was also looking into introducing more local commercial flights. “Traditionally Lanseria International catered for corporate clients and housed private planes.  “But last year we contracted [low-cost airline] kulula.com to introduce commercial flights between Joburg and Cape Town. We hope to expand this in the near future.”

At least 350000 foreigners are expected to flock to South Africa for the soccer showpiece. Sayce said: “It is too early to comment but we are in talks with the local organising committee to have Lanseria fly in the Fifa delegation and match officials during the tournament as well as fly them around the country during its duration.” He said the airport boasted a range of private jets that it leased out and this would enable officials to be transported faster between cities.

He said planned upgrades to the airport include:

•The construction of a new terminal alongside the existing one that will serve all international arrivals and departures;

•The building of several new aircraft hangars;

•Expanding the car park; and

•Building a new control tower.

Sayce said plans were still being finalised, adding that the project was expected to cost tens of millions of rands. He said that by early next year more commercial flights to cities such as Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth would be introduced. Riaan Venter, chief engineer at the Gauteng Department of Public Transport, Roads and Works, said upgrades to roads leading to the airport would be completed before December 2009. He said major work had already begun on the K29 highway — which leads to the airport and has only a single lane at present — to turn it into a dual carriageway. The highway is an extension of Hans Strydom Drive, from Randburg, and cuts past low-cost housing development Cosmo City and the N14 offramp to Pretoria. Venter said: “The upgrading of the existing route takes place mainly in the rural areas and no residential areas will be affected.

“Construction will be phased in over the next three to four years and we are already busy with the first phase.” A member of the local organising committee’s aviation task team said: “A task team has been convened and will be looking at the utilisation of all airports in South Africa, including Lanseria.”