Africa is on the brink of a significant surge in air travel, but current airport infrastructure may not be able to handle the anticipated influx of passengers. Speaking at the IATA Wings of Change conference in Johannesburg on July 3, IATA Regional Director of Operations, Safety, and Security, Kashif Khalid, highlighted that air traffic is expected to double in the next 20 years, with a substantial portion of this growth occurring in Africa.
When questioned about the continent’s readiness for this growth, South African Airways (SAA) Chief Commercial Officer Tebogo Tsimane responded, “The answer is no. For many African countries, airport infrastructure is not up to standard for growth and is insufficient for current needs.”
Mpumi Mpofu, CEO of Airports Company South Africa (Acsa), echoed this sentiment, noting that most infrastructure growth is concentrated in North Africa. Jennifer Bamuturaki, CEO of Uganda Airlines, pointed out a disconnect between airlines and airports regarding capacity upgrades. She emphasized the need for airports to collaborate with airlines on long-term planning and expansion strategies.
Despite these challenges, there are promising developments. Mpofu mentioned new airport projects in Zambia and Nigeria. However, in South Africa, passenger numbers still lag behind airport capacity. “OR Tambo has a 28 million-person capacity, but we are currently at around 21 million. There is room to grow,” Mpofu stated.
The panel agreed that merely expanding airport size is not the solution. “Bigger is not necessarily better. We need to invest in digital technology to process passengers efficiently,” said Khalid. Tsimane concurred, suggesting that African airports should monetize customer needs, like fast lanes, to improve passenger flow.
However, implementing technology presents its own challenges. Khangi Khoza, CEO of Swissport, noted that South Africa’s uncertain power supply hinders the operation of digital technologies in airports.
The conference underscored the urgent need for African airports to modernize and collaborate closely with airlines to meet the forthcoming surge in air travel demand.
