SA Prepares itself for the A380

[Gunship]

Improvements of more than R370m will be made to the Cape Town and Johannesburg international airports over the next few years to accomodate the gigantic new Airbus A380.

Airlines are expected to start using the planes in 2007.

Airports company of SA communications manager, Solomon Makgale, said on Sunday that several airlines were expected to use the A380 on their SA routes.

In Johannesburg, improvements of R250m were being planned to, amongst other things, the old terminal for domestic flights and aprons, and in Cape Town the improvements would cost R124m.

There were no current plans to prepare other airports in the country for the A380.

Deirdré Hendricks, spokesperson for Acsa in the Cape, said on Sunday that two new aprons and a new air bridge would be built here.

Construction would start early next year and be completed in 2008, she said.

The runway would also be made slightly wider to handle the new air giant, she said.

The work on the aprons and air bridge would cost R72m and that on the runways R52m.

Makgale said in Johannesburg the old terminal for domestic flights would be transformed into a new international terminal. New aprons will also be built for the A380.

Initially there would be space for five A380s, but if the need arose, a sixth plane could be accommodated, he said.

Fuel pipes would also be extended and the air bridge improved.

In addition, more international weigh-in counters would be built.

At present, there were 104 weigh-in counters, and this would be increased to 180.

The improvements in Johannesburg were expected to be completed by 2007.

Makgale said the runways in Johannesburg could already accommodate the A380.

This new aircraft has two decks for its entire length and will be able to transport between 555 and 853 passengers.

It also has space for gyms, beds, luxury private rooms, casinos and bars.

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