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Lanseria airport delivers the goods
2 February 2007 By Anish Abraham DESPITE its idyllic setting in the countryside to the northeast of Mogale City, Lanseria International Airport is one of the busiest on the African continent, handling over 300 aircraft movements a day. The private airport is located in reasonable proximity to Mogale City and the greater West Rand district, as well as cities such as Johannesburg and Pretoria. More than 170 000 passengers passed through it in 2006. Contrary to perceptions that the airport is used solely for private individual and corporate flights and freight, the airport also has commercial passenger flights. No frills airline Kulula.com offers daily flights from Lanseria to Cape Town, while there is a possibility of a service to Durban as well. The current flights between two of South Africa's main cities attract an even mix of businesspeople and leisure travellers. Air Travelmax, a private charter airline, also offers flights to Inhambane and Vilanculos in Mozambique, only a one-hour-and-forty-five minute trip away. On the local front, the airport is situated conveniently close to the vast tourist treasures of the Magaliesberg, ranging from the world-renowned Cradle of Humankind and its Sterkfontein Cave, to the Magalies Meander art and craft route. "Our biggest challenge is to educate residents that they have an alternative from which to travel," explains Lize Nel, Lanseria's manager for marketing and public relations. With affordable parking opposite the terminal building, direct walk-on to the aircraft and high-quality facilities, as well as car rental companies and airport shuttle services, Lanseria deems itself "Johannesburg's most convenient airport". Chartered flights still make up the majority of business in South Africa, with over 80 percent of the country's corporate jets based at Lanseria. "Over 800 aircraft are present at the airport at any given time," Nel says. Aerial shot of the car park, terminal building and runways The Roodepoort and Krugersdorp municipalities, the airport's original owners, sold the facility to a private company in 1990. Facilities
Officially opened in August 1974, the airport has grown from strength to strength and now has international status. Though the majority of its traffic is into sub-Saharan Africa, it also services destinations in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, the Far East and the Asia-Pacific regions.
To best cater for the increasing numbers of passengers making their way through the airport's terminals, a number of South African government departments and agencies have opened branches in the terminal.
These include immigration, customs and excise, police, national intelligence, veterinary services and the departments of health, agriculture and environmental affairs and tourism. In addition, more than 250 companies are based at Lanseria, involved in aircraft maintenance, freight operations, aircraft leasing and sales and pilot training.
A new R55-million terminal was opened in 2002 to ease passenger flow; and both runways and taxiways where upgraded in 2004 at a cost of R45-million. Following these upgrades, the airport can handle larger passenger aircraft such as the Boeing 757 and Airbus A319.
It's location in the epicenter of footballing activities during the Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup - Gauteng will host the lion's share of matches - means that Lanseria is poised to benefit from the expected influx of both domestic and foreign visitors.
"Lanseria will definitely play a pivotal role in the Fifa world cup in 2010," Nel says. "Not only will the airport be the preferred point of entry for business jets leading up to and during the tournament, but it will also assist in the local distribution of passengers, teams, support staff and sponsors during this prestigious event."
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Early morning at Lanseria International Airport
Related stories Doing business in Mogale City New runway gives Mogale a lift Putting safety first Showcasing the Cradle of Humankind |
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