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As up to half a million international fans expected to jet into South Africa for the Fifa World Cup, an estimated 2000 aircraft will fly over the country every day during the six-week period. A huge logistical planning project is under way to manage the safe air-traffic flow from before the tournament begins on June 11 to after July 11 when it ends. Transport Department spokesman Sam Monareng said there would be a "three-hub" strategy, with specific airlines offering flights to Cape Town, Durban, or OR Tambo International. It is understood that flights from the Americas will generally come to Cape Town, European flights to OR Tambo, and Asian flights to Durban.
"This will only affect additional flights and will not affect existing services at these airports," Monareng said. "The strategy seeks to alleviate potential pressure on OR Tambo. Airlines will be encouraged – not forced – to operate these additional services, according to the three-hub strategy. Airlines currently offering services to South Africa will continue to do so during the World Cup and may increase flights according to air-services agreements. "We anticipate that there will also be a high volume of charter flights."
Monareng said aviation planning was being done by a body known as the Aviation Sub-Sector Task Team. Detailed operational plans were being developed involving various role players, including Civil Aviation at the Department of Transport, the Airports Company SA, Air Traffic and Navigation Services, and SA Civil Aviation Authorities. Monareng said: "OR Tambo is the local airport with the largest capacity and can handle about 60 aircraft movements an hour. All the three main airports can handle the A380 super jumbo aircraft."
The department says discussions are also under way with the SA Air Force to use some of its air bases for aircraft parking, should the need for this arise. Anna Sanfilippo, spokeswoman for Air Traffic and Navigation Services, said that for the six weeks of heightened aviation around the World Cup, an estimated 30 000 to 40 000 slots had already been booked for the three major airports. Acsa has already said the upgrades of Cape Town International and OR Tambo are on track and will be ready to meet the surge in demand, while the new Durban airport at La Mercy is to be opened on May 1.
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